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JASON'S   QUEST 

D.   O.   S.   LOWELL,   A.M. 


HEAD    MASTER    IN    THE    ROXBURY    LATIN    SCHOOL 


ILLUSTRATED  BY   C.   IV.   REED 


J* 


\A   <LMJ"»    Al 

Wfflmm 

n      » 
oca  li  kiii 

BOSTON 
LOTHROP,    LEE    &    SHEPARD    CO. 


Copyright,  1893,  by  D.  O.  S.  Lowell. 


[All  rights  reserved.] 


Typography  and  Electbotyping  by 
C.  J.  Peters  &  Son,  Boston. 

Berwick  &  Smith,  Printers,  Boston. 


TO 

MT  FKIEND  AND  FORMER  TEACHER, 

3ojm  ffireen  Mi$t,  &JH.,  ¥&♦©•> 

UNDER   WHOSE 

INSPIRING  GUIDANCE 

I  FIRST  LEARNED  THE  BEAUTY  OF  THE 

OLD  GREEK  MYTHS, 

I    GRATEFULLY     INSCRIBE 

Cfjis  Folutne. 


PREFACE. 


The  inimitable  Goldsmith,  in  his  "  History  of  Ani- 
mated Nature,"  relates  a  somewhat  remarkable  anec- 
dote, and  says  that  he  found  it  in  a  work  which  bore 
some  very  good  marks  of  veracity,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  very  learned  and  very  dull. 

Now,  as  this  little  book  does  not  lay  claim  to  the 
former  distinction,  the  evidence  of  its  veracity  must 
rest  solely  upon  its  dulness.  But  in  case  even  that 
should  prove  insufficient,  I  may  be  pardoned  for  say- 
ing that,  though  the  events  herein  described  are 
somewhat  startling  in  themselves,  there  is  excellent 
classical  authority  for  most  of  them. 

This  volume  owes  its  existence  to  the  writer's  recol- 
lections of  his  own  needs  and  wishes  when  a  school- 
boy. That  students  need  an  early  induction  into  the 
mysteries  of  mythology,  few  will  have  the  rashness 
to  dispute.  The  poet  constantly  alludes  to  the 
Grecian  myths  ;  the  essayist  cites  them  in  his  most  tell- 
ing paragraphs  ;  the  preacher  postulates  a  knowledge 
of  them  on  the  part  of  his  audience.     There  lies  at 


VI  PREFACE. 

my  elbow  one  of  the  most  popular  manuals  pub- 
lished upon  the  Sunday-school  lessons  of  the  current 
year.  I  look  over  its  pages,  and  I  find  that  the 
author  seeks  to  inculcate  religious  truth  through  the 
aid  of '  the  myths  of  Cadmus  and  the  dragon's  teeth, 
the  gardens  of  the  Hesperides,  the  ring  of  Gyges, 
the  punishment  of  Prometheus,  and  the  songs  of  the 
Sirens.  In  a  word,  a  familiar  acquaintance  with 
these  old-time  traditions  is  necessary  to  a  liberal 
education. 

In  Jason's  Quest  the  story  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  interesting  myths  —  the  Argonautic  Ex- 
pedition in  search  of  the  Golden  Fleece  —  is  told  with 
a  fulness  of  detail  which,  I  think,  has  never  been 
attempted  for  young  readers.  Many  allied  myths  are 
outlined  in  passing,  and  the  constant  endeavor  is 
made  to  arouse  the  interest  of  the  reader  in  others 
of  importance,  so  that  he  may  investigate  them  for 
himself. 

An  Appendix  at  the  end  of  the  volume  shows 
where  one  may  find,  in  his  maturer  years,  the  originals 
of  the  story  which  he  must  now  take  through  the 
medium  of  a  translator,  and  a  carefully  prepared  In- 
dex makes  the  whole  available  as  a  book  of  reference. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  I  have  found  it  a 
delightful,  and  well-nigh  necessary,  task  to  consult 
and  carefully  compare  the  ancient  narratives  of  the 


PREFACE.  Vll 

Argonautic  Expedition  as  given  by  Apollodorus, 
Apollonius  Rhodius,  Diodorus  Siculus,  Hyginus, 
the  pseudo-Orphens,  Pindar,  and  Valerius  Flaccus. 
While  so  doing  I  have  come  to  agree  heartily  with 
what  Dr.  Win.  Smith  says  in  his  great,  but  some- 
times erroneous,1  three-volume  "  Dictionary  of  Greek 
and  Roman  Biography  and  Mythology :"  — 

"  There  is  scarcely  any  other  adventure  in  the 
ancient  stories  of  Greece,  the  detail  of  which  has 
been  so  differently  related  by  poets  of  all  kinds." 

The  learned  mythologist,  Jacob  Bryant,  also  says 
("Analysis  of  Antient  Mythology,"  v.  2,  p.  491), 
"  Some  references  to  the  Argonautic  Expedition  are 
interspersed  in  most  of  the  writings  of  the  antients, 
but  there  is  scarce  a  circumstance  concerning  it  in 
which  they  are  agreed." 

In  this  story  of  Jason's  Quest,  no  attempt  is 
made  to  harmonize,  or  even  mention,  all  the  varying 
accounts,  though  some  of  the  most  striking  differ- 
ences are  recorded  in  the  notes.  The  chief  object  has 
been  to  produce  a  story  that  shall  be  both  attractive 
and  helpful  to  children  and  youth,  and  possibly  to 
some  of  larger  growth  who  have  not  quite  outgrown 
their  youthf ulness,  or  love  of  folk-lore  and  fairy  tales. 

In  order  to  do  this,  and  to  give  an  air  of  reality 

1  E.  g.  In  the  duel  between  Amycus  and  Polydeuces  (Art.  Argo- 
nautae)  he  says  it  is  the  latter  who  is  slain  1 


vin  PREFACE. 

and  continuity  to  the  whole,  I  have  not  scrupled 
to  combine  the  statements  of  various  classic  writers. 
But  I  have  omitted  many  points  of  discord,  and  in  a 
few  cases,  where  even  then  the  chain  of  events  seemed 
irreparably  broken,  I  have  imitated  the  tragic  poets 
and  forged  a  connecting  link. 

Beyond  this  confession  I  have  no  apology  except  a 
quotation  from  Diodorus  Siculus. 

After  stating  that  when  the  Argonauts  approached 
Salmydessus,  Phineus  went  out  to  fight  them  and 
was  slain  by  Heracles,  —  an  account  widely  different 
from  that  which  I  have  recorded  on  pp.  107-113, — 
the  last-named  writer  adds  (B.  iv.  44,  5.) :  — 

"  I  am  not  ignorant  that  some  mythographers  pre- 
tend that  Phineus  had  put  out  his  children's  eyes,  and 
that  he  received  a  similar  treatment  at  the  hands  of 
Boreas.  Certain  others  also  say  that  Heracles,  hav- 
ing landed  in  search  of  water,  had  been  left  behind 
on  the  coast  of  Asia  by  the  Argonauts ;  in  a  word, 
the  ancient  myths  are  far  from  being  in  accord  with 
each  other.  This  is  why  one  should  not  be  as- 
tonished if  some  of  the  facts  which  I  relate  are  not 
consistent  with  the  accounts  of  all  the  poets  and  his- 
torians." 

My  thanks  are  especially  due  to  the  well-known 
artist  Mr.  C.  W.  Reed,  who  has  thrown  his  soul  into 
the  work  of  illustrating  the  text.     With  his  graphic 


PREFACE.  ix 

pencil  lie  has  lent  a  spirit  and  a  color  to  the  narrative 
which  any  words  of  mine  would  be  powerless  to 
impart.  His  work  has  been  ably  presented  herein, 
through  the  genius  of  Messrs.  J.  P.  Simonds  &  Co., 
of  Boston,  photo-engravers.  Their  fidelity  of  repro- 
duction and  carefulness  of  detail  have  been  a  delight 
to  both  artist  and  author. 

I  am  also  deeply  grateful  to  Mr.  William  C.  Collar, 
Headmaster  of  the  Roxbury  Latin  School,  for  valu- 
able suggestions  and  helpful  criticisms. 

D.  O.  S.  Lowell. 
Boston,  April,  1893. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    The  Queen's  Victims 1 

II.    A  Ride  through  the  Air 11 

III.  The  Son  of  the  Sun 20 

IV.  Jason  appears  and  disappears 30 

V.     "Sir  Oracle" 40 

VI.  "One  Shoe  off  and  one  Shoe  on"    ...    .      50 

VII.    A  Chapter  of  Heroes 61 

VIII.    A  Disappointment 73 

IX.    The  Argonauts  embark 82 

X.    Friends  and  Enemies 90 

XI.    Amycus  meets  his  Match 99 

XII.    Eastward,  Ho! 110 

XIII.  A  deadly  Plot 122 

XIV.  Seed-time  and  Harvest 133 

XV.    Serenading  the  Dragon 144 

XVI.  Black  Art  makes  a  black  Heart     ....     154 

XVII.     Circe  and  the  Sirens 164 

XVIII.     Toilers  of  the  Sea 114 

XIX.     Homeward  bound 183 

XX.    Life  and  Death 192 

x 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SUBJECT  PAGE 

Jason  ploughing  (see  page  139) Frontispiece 

The  winged  Ram 10 

The  Fall  of  Helle 19 

Zeus  destroys  Salmoneus 33 

Jason  crossing  the  Anauros 57 

Hera 58 

Cerberus 71 

The  six-armed  Giants .       92 

polydeuces  vanquishes  amycus 103 

The  Pursuit  of  the  Harpies Ill 

Between  the  Symplegades 117 

Medea  in  her  Serpent-Chariot 135 

The  earth-born  Warriors 141 

Circe  and  her  Victims 166 

Scylla 181 

Medea's  Magic 198 

Medea's  Revenge 205 

Argo  Navis  (a  constellation) Tailpiece 

Twenty  initial  Letters See  Chapters 

xi 


THE  DESCENT  OF  JASON  AND  MEDEA. 
(Italics  denote  females  ;   single  lines,  parentage ;  double,  marriage.) 


Chaos 


Divine  Principle 


{Ops) 


-  Cronos  Iapetus\\     Oceanus  =  Teihys.        Hyperion  =  Thia. 

(Saturn) 


ZEUS : ■  HERA 

(Jupiter)  {Juno) 


Helios  =  Perseis 


Prometheus 


Asia  ox     Idyia  =^Eetes    Circe 
~—^  Clymene 


Deucalion  =  Pyrrha 
| 

Hellen  =  Orseis 


jEolus  =  Enarete 


Alcidice =Salmoneus  =  ^/rf^ro^CRETHEUs  Ino= Aih3.ma.s=JVephele 

I  I 

Learchus     Melicertes 
Poseidon  =  Tyro 
(Neptune)' 

MsoN=Alcimede    Helle    Phrixus=  Chalciopt 


Neleus  Pelias 

Hypsipyle 


Euneus  Nebrophonus 


Argus 
and  his  four  brothers 


Absyrtus 


MEDEA 


Creusa 


Mermerus 


Pheres 


JASON'S    QUEST. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE    QUEEN  S    VICTIMS. 


far 
for 


If  God  will  be  avenged  for  the  deed, 
O,  know  you,  that  he  doth  it  publicly. 

Shakespeare.  — King  Richard  III. 

PROPOSE  to  tell  you  a 
curious  story  of  the  first 
ship  that  ever  crossed  the 
seas.  No,  it  was  not  Noah's 
Ark,  as  perhaps  you  may 
imagine,  for  that  was  not 
really  a  ship  at  all,  but  only 
a  kind  of  monster  raft, 
without  keel  or  rudder, 
sails  or  oars.  Noah  didn't 
wish  to  go  anywhere,  so 
as  we  can  learn.  This  may  have  been 
the    sufficient    reason   that   there    was    no- 


2  JASON'S   QUEST. 

where  to  go.  So  long  as  he  could  float  he  was 
satisfied. 

But  the  ship  of  which  I  am  to  speak  was 
made  (or  we  will  think  of  it  as  made)  about  half 
as  far  back  as  the  Flood,  and  was  called  the 
Ar'go.1 

Some  writers  will  have  it  that,  previous  to  this, 
Dan'aus,  a  prince  of  Lib'ya,  built  a  fifty-oared 
ship  and  carried  his  fine  family  of  fifty  daughters 
over  to  the  island  of  Rhodes.  But  that  is  not 
quite  certain,  for  the  dates  of  prehistoric  times 
are  confused  at  best ;  and  at  any  rate  we  may 
say  that  the  Ar'go  was  the  first  ship  with  a  name 
and  a  history. 

The  story  that  I  am  going  to  tell  is  just  as 
true  as  —  as  Santa  Claus.  I  don't  know  but  I 
might  call  it  truer,  in  those  old  days  of  which 
I  write.  For  while  some  of  my  readers  may  not 
have  faith  enough  in  Santa  Claus  to  hang  up 
their  stockings  on  Christmas  eve,  not  only  all 
the  little  Greek  boys  and  girls  used  to  believe 
the  wonderful  tale  of  the  Ar'go,  a  ship  that  could 

1  Jacob  Bryant,  however,  seems  to  think  the  story  of  the  Argo 
was  a  tradition  of  the  Ark. 


THE   QUEEN'S   VICTIMS.  3 

talk ;  and  of  Chrysomal'lus,  a  sheep  that  could 
both  talk  and  fly ;  and  of  Ja'son,  whom  at  one 
time  fire  could  not  burn,  and  on  whose  flesh  the. 
sharpest  sword  would  turn  its  edge  ;  but  all 
their  biggest  brothers  and  sisters,  their  fathers 
and  mothers,  and  their  greatest  grandparents, 
believed  these  stories  also. 

Now,  while  I  will  not  ask  you  to  suppose  that 
everything  took  place  exactly  as  will  be  stated, 
I  will  ask  you  to  think  that  if  you  had  lived 
in  Greece  two  thousand  years  ago  you  would 
have  had  no  doubt  of  it  whatever. 

It  is  very  important  that  you  should  know 
some  of  these  tales  as  the  Greeks  used  to  tell 
them,  for  you  will  rarely  read  a  long  poem  or  a 
great  romance,  or  even  listen  to  an  eloquent 
speech,  that  does  not  refer  somehow  to  the  old 
Grecian  gods  and  heroes  ;  and  if  you  know 
nothing  of  the  myths  or  fables  concerning  them, 
you  cannot  fully  understand  the  author's  mean- 
ing. 

Sometimes,  however,  writers  and  speakers 
make  mistakes  in  their  allusions,  all  because 
they  have  not  learned  the  stories  as  carefully  as 


4  JASON'S  QUEST. 

some  of  you  will  do.     Thus,  Patrick  Henry  once 
said,  in  his  most  famous  speech : 

"  It  is  natural  to  man  to  indulge  in  the  illusions  of  Hope.  We 
are  apt  to  shut  our  eyes  against  a  painful  truth,  and  listen  to  the 
song  of  that  Siren,  till  she  transforms  us  into  beasts." 

Now,  before  you  complete  the  story  of  Ja'son's 
Quest  you  will  learn  something  about  the  Si'rens, 
and  you  will  find  that  though  they  were  very 
sweet  singers,  they  never  did  as  Patrick  Henry 
supposed.  He  had  confounded  them  with  the 
story  of  Cir'ce,  of  whom  you  will  also  read.  In 
fact,  although  Mr.  Henry  was  a  great  orator  — 
some  even  think  the  greatest  that  ever  lived  — 
he  was  so  neglectful  of  his  studies  when  a  boy, 
that  he  sometimes  made  mistakes  in  his  speeches 
after  he  became  a  man. 

Many  who  are  now  reading  this  will  some 
day  be  called  upon  to  speak  in  public,  and  I  hope 
they  will  then  remember  some  of  the  myths  con- 
tained in  this  little  book,  and  not  confuse  Cir'ce 
with  the  Si'rens. 

But  it  is  quite  time  to  begin  our  story. 

Ath'amas,  who  ruled  over  the  Min'yans,  in 
Bceo'tia  of  ancient  Greece,  was  the  son  of  iE'olus, 


THE   QUEEN'S  VICTIMS.  5 

who  was  a  direct  descendant  from  the  oldest 
gods,  U'ranus  and  Ge 1  (Heaven  and  Earth),  who 
sprang  from  Cha'os.  Ath'amas  at  first  married 
I'no,  a  mortal,  but  divorced  her  at  Ju'no's  com- 
mand and  married  Neph'ele,  a  cloud-nymph. 

Ath'amas  and  Neph'ele  had  two  children,  a 
girl  and  a  boy,  whom  they  named  Hel'le  and 
Phrix'us.  But  King  Ath'amas  at  last  grew 
tired  of  poor  Neph'ele,  and  pretended  that  she 
had  crazy  fits,  so  he  put  her  away  and  took  back 
I'no.  The  last  wife  —  who  was  also  his  first  — 
had  never  forgiven  the  cloud-nymph  for  marry- 
ing her  husband,  and  now,  by  way  of  revenge, 
she  determined  to  kill  Neph'ele's  two  children. 

She  took  a  very  curious  and  roundabout  way 
to  do  this.  First,  she  called  in  the  women  of 
the  kingdom  and  made  them  promise  to  parch 
all  the  grain  their  husbands  were  going  to  sow. 
How  she  induced  them  to  do  this  nobody  knows ; 
one  might  think  the  Min'yan  dames  would  have 
told  her  she  was  far  crazier  than  Neph'ele.  But 
it  is  said  that  they  went  home  and  secretly 
parched  all  the  seed  corn. 

1  Cxlus  and  Terra  in  Roman  Mythology.     Ge,  pronounced  gay. 


6  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Now,  corn  (or  grain  of  any  sort,  for  our  Indian 
corn  was  unknown  to  the  Greeks)  does  not  need 
to  be  parched  brown  in  order  to  destroy  it  for 
seed.  The  Min'yan  women  did  not  do  that,  or 
their  husbands  would  have  suspected  them. 
They  heated  it  as  hot  as  they  could  without 
changing  its  color,  and  then  put  it  away  care- 
fully for  the  planting- time. 

How  curiously  guilty  they  must  have  felt 
when  they  saw  their  husbands  ploughing  and 
sowing,  and  all  the  while  knew  nothing  could 
ever  grow,  any  more  than  if  they  had  planted 
wooden  nutmegs.  Anybody  can  see  that  this 
part  of  the  story  is  a  fable,  for  some  one  in  the 
kingdom  would  certainly  have  let  the  secret  out 
if  it  had  been  a  real  occurrence. 

But  we  read  that  everything  went  on  as  usual 
till  it  was  time  for  the  "  corn  "  to  grow,  and 
nothing  came.  Throughout  the  whole  land 
there  was  not  a  single  blade.  Then  all  the 
people  declared  that  the  gods  were  angry  for 
some  cause  and  that  a  sacrifice  must  be  made 
to  please  them.  So  Ath'amas,  the  King,  sent  to 
a  priest  to  learn  what  victim  must  be  offered  up. 


THE   QUEEN'S   VICTIMS.  7 

Now,  this  was  just  wheat  wicked  I'no  expected, 
and  she  had  been  to  the  priest  and  bribed  him 
to  tell  a  story  to  suit  herself.  So  when  the 
messenger  of  Ath'amas  came  with  the  king's 
demand,  the  old  priest  pretended  to  go  into  a 
kind  of  fit,  or  trance,  just  as  some  people  do 
nowadays,  and  after  taking  a  suitable  time  to 
impress  the  messenger  with  his  antics,  he  an- 
swered somewhat  as  follows  : 

"  0  thou,  who  comest  to  seek  the  oracles  of 
fate  in  behalf  of  King  Ath'amas  and  his  perish- 
ing subjects,  bear  back  this  answer.  The  virgin 
goddess  Ar'temis  1  nurses  sad  wrath  against  the 
Min'yans  and  the  Min'yan  king  :  because,  for- 
sooth, the  cloud-nymph,  Neph'ele,  contrary  to 
her  oath,  has  married  and  borne  children. 
Therefore  Ar'temis  has  prayed  Deme'ter2  to 
restrain  the  produce  of  the  earth  till  Neph'ele' s 
two  children  moisten  with  their  blood  the  bar- 
ren soil." 

And  now,  before  going  further,  if  you  will 


1  Artemis  was  the  Greek  name,  and  Diana  the  Roman  name,  of 
the  goddess.  As  this  is  a  Greek  story  the  Grecian  names  will  gener- 
ally be  preferred.        2  Ceres. 


8  JASON'S  QUEST. 

get  your  Bibles  and  read  the  account  of  Abra- 
ham's offering  up  Isaac,  I  think  you  will  see  a 
strange  resemblance  to  what  I  shall  relate.  It 
is  as  though  the  grand  old  story  of  man's  faith 
in  God's  wisdom  had  spread  even  then  beyond 
the  Jewish  nation,  but  with  its  facts  so  twisted 
or  destroyed,  and  with  so  many  traditions  and 
incidents  of  human  passion  interwoven,  as  to 
lose  all  its  simplicity  and  to  seem  like  a  mar- 
vellous fable. 

The  words  of  the  priest  were  repeated  to  King 
Ath/amas,  and  he  was  foolish  enough  to  believe 
that  he  must  offer  up  his  innocent  children  to 
appease  the  wrath  of  Ar'temis,  the  goddess  who 
loved  hunting  and  hated  husbands,  But  Neph'- 
ele  resolved  to  move  heaven  and  earth,  if  pos- 
sible, to  save  the  children.  So  she  sought  an 
interview  with  Her'mes,1  the  sly  and  crafty  god, 
and  asked  him  to  help  her. 

Meanwhile  everything  had  been  prepared  for 
the  sacrifice,  and  a  great  crowd  of  famine- 
stricken  people  had  assembled  to  see  the  chil- 
dren offered  up,  whose  death,  as  they  religiously 

1  Mercury, 


THE   QUEEN'S   VICTIMS.  9 

believed,  would  bring  them  life.  King  Ath'amas 
was  present,  sad  but  stern,  never  onee  shrinking 
from  what  he  thought  his  duty  to  his  people, 
and  on  his  arm  leaned  the  false  and  beautiful 
I'no,  pretending  to  weep  in  sympathy,  while 
their  two  boys,  Lear'chus  and  Melicer'tes,  ran 
gayly  on  before.  In  an  open  space,  before  the 
multitude,  stood  the  altar,  with  a  fire  already 
kindled,  while  a  few  feet  above  it  hovered  a 
curious  cloud. 

All  were  wondering  at  the  meaning  of  this 
omen,  for  the  Greeks  never  saw  anything  strange 
without  thinking  that  some  god  was  thus  reveal- 
ing his  will  if  they  could  only  read  the  sign 
aright.  And  now  there  were  many  who  thought 
they  could  explain  the  secret  of  the  cloud.  Some 
said  that  when  the  fire  grew  hotter  it  would  be 
dissolved,  and  thus  show  how  the  common  sacri- 
fice would  dispel  the  wrath  of  Ar'temis.  Some 
gave  another  explanation,  that  they  might  seem 
equally  wise  with  the  first.  But  all  agreed  that 
the  omen  was  a  good  one,  and  so  it  was,  yet  not 
in  the  sense  they  had  expected. 

For    the    strange    cloud   was  no    other   than 


10  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Neph'ele  herself,  the  mother  of  Phrix'us  and 
Hel'le,  who,  being  a  cloud-nymph,  could  assume 
this  form  at  will ;  and  in  her  arms,  unknown  to 
the  multitude,  she  bore  the  magic  gift  of  the 
kind  god  Her'mes,  with  which  she  hoped  to  save 
her  darling  children. 

At  length  the  priest  approached,  leading 
Phrix'us  and  Hel'le  by  the  hands.  He  was  the 
same  whom  cruel  Pno  had  bribed,  and  he  knew 
that  when  the  children  had  been  offered  up  he 
would  receive  still  greater  favors  at  her  hand. 
So  he  strode  eagerly  toward  the  altar  on  which 
lay  the  sacrificial  knife.  But  just  as  he  put 
forth  his  hand,  the  cloud  above  him  parted,  and 
like  a  vivid  lightning  flash  sprang  down  there- 
from the  wonderful  creature  named  Chrysomal'- 
lus,  or  Golden  Fleece. 


THE    WINGED    RAM. 


A  RIDE   THROUGH   THE   AIR. 


11 


CHAPTER   II. 


A    RIDE    THROUGH    THE    AIR. 


What  fatal  causes  could  so  far  incense 
The  queen  of  heaven,  and  what  the  dire  offence, 
When  Athamas,  by  wrath  divine  pursued, 
His  trembling  hands  in  filial  blood  imbrued, 
And  bis  pale  spouse,  to  shun  his  angry  bow, 
Sprung  from  the  beacb,  and  sought  the  depths  below  ? 
Statius.  — Translated  by  Lewis.1 

HRYSOMAL'LUS  was  a  ram 
of  marvellous  beauty,  with 
thick,  heavy,  yellow  wool, 
that  glowed  and  sparkled 
in  the  sunlight  like  the 
pure  gold  which  it  was. 
And  stranger  yet,  from  his 
shoulders  grew  a  pair  of 
broad,  strong  wings,  such  as 
no  eagle  ever  knew ;  while,  strangest  of  all 
strange  things,  as  he  came  rushing  from    the 

1  Appendix,  note  1. 


12  JASON'S   QUEST. 

cloud  and  stood  between  the  altar  and  the  ter- 
rified priest,  he  cried  out  with  a  human  voice, 
so  loud  that  all  could  hear  :  — 

"  Back !  false-hearted  one,  who  dost  prepare 
to  execute  a  jealous  queen's  decree,  and  carest 
only  for  the  wanton  will  of  Fno !  Gold  has 
brought  these  children  to  the  altar,  Golden 
Fleece  shall  save  them  from  it.  Come,  Phrix'us! 
Come.,  Hel'le  !  Climb  upon  my  back,  and  let  us 
fly  to  safety  in  a  pleasant  land." 

With  a  glad  bound  the  two  sprang  forward, 
for  they  had  recognized  their  mother  in  the 
cloud  smiling  upon  them,  and  knew  she  had 
brought  this  deliverance  ;  so  they  climbed  hastily 
upon  the  back  of  the  beautiful  ram,  and  before 
the  priest  had  recovered  from  his  alarm  Golden 
Fleece  spread  his  powerful  wings  and  rose  high 
above  the  people  into  the  air. 

Then  false  Fno  turned  to  the  people;  her 
pretended  sadness  had  all  departed,  and  a  look 
of  cruel  hatred  came  into  her  angry  face.  In  a 
loud  voice  she  cried :  "  And  shall  our  offering 
escape,  and  must  we  perish  miserably  of  hun- 
ger ?     A  golden  quiver  and  a  silver  bow  to  the 


A  RIDE  THROUGH  THE  AIR.  13 

quick  archer  who  shall  send  a  feathered  shaft 
into  yon  Hying  monster." 

But  no  one  moved  a  limb.  Then  King  Ath'a- 
mas,  blind  in  his  rage,  —  for  all  the  cruelty  and 
treachery  of  I'no  was  now  revealed  to  him,  — 
seized  the  innocent  Lear'chus,  his  own  and 
I'no's  son,  whirled  him  aloft  in  the  air,  and 
dashed  his  life  out  on  the  ground,  saying :  — 

"No,  by  great  Zeus,1  and  by  yon  sacrificial 
fire,  kindled  for  an  unholy  purpose,  our  offering 
has  not  escaped  and  shall  not :  nor  will  I  stay 
my  hand  till  thy  fell  brood  has  rid  the  earth  of 
its  accursed  presence." 

The  other  of  their  children,  Melicer'tes,  was 
standing  at  I'no's  side.  On  seeing  the  fury  of 
Ath'amas  she  caught  the  boy  from  the  ground 
and  dashed  toward  the  sea.  The  king  pursued 
with  sword  in  hand  ;  but  so  great  a  crowd  rushed 
in  between  him  and  his  fleeina;  wife  that  he 
could  not  overtake  her  till  she  reached  a  lofty 
rock  upon  the  shore,  when,  clasping  Melicer'tes 
in  her  arms,  she  plunged  beneath  the  waves. 

Then  first  the   maddened   king   returned  to 

1  Jupiter. 


14  JASON'S  QUEST. 

reason,  and  knew  what  he  had  done  ;  and  fear- 
ing for  his  life  he  left  his  home  and  kingdom, 
and  came  to  Iorcos  in  Thes'saly,  where  his 
brother  Cre'theus  reigned. 

As  for  Fno,  this  cold  bath  must  have  washed 
all  the  wickedness  out  of  her,  or  else  the 
Grecian  gods  had  a  strange  idea  of  justice ;  for 
the  poet  Pin'dar  writes :  — 

"  They  say  to  I'no  an  immortal  life 
With  Ne'reus'  sea-born  daughters  in  the  sea, 
For  aye  has  been  assigned."  J 

With  regard  to  Melicer'tes,  we  are  less  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  he  was  made  a  god  and 
called  PalaB'mon  ;  his  mother  was  thenceforth 
known  as  Leucothe'a  ; 2  and  sailors  used  to  pray 
to  them,  thinking  they  were  able  to  save  them 
from  shipwreck.  Ovid  says  Aphrodite 3  prayed 
to  Posei'don 4  that  they  might  be  thus  trans- 
formed, since  I'no  was  her  grand-daughter. 
Thereupon 

"  Pleased  Nep'tune  nodded  his  assent,  and  free 
Both  soon  became  from  frail  mortality. 

1  Appendix,  Note  2.  3  Venus. 

2  Or  Leucothbe.    Appendix,  Note  3.  *  Neptune. 


A   RIDE   THROUGH   THE   AIR.  15 

He  gave  them  form,  and  majesty  divine, 
And  bade  them  glide  along  the  foamy  brine. 
For  Melicer'tes  is  Pala/mon  known, 
And  I'no  once,  Leucoth'oe  is  grown."  1 

While  king  Ath'amas  head  been  pursuing  his 
treacherous  wife,  the  winged  ram  with  wool  of 
gold  shot  up  into  the  clear  sky  till  he  seemed 
only  a  shining  speck.  The  children  at  length 
got  over  the  fright  they  had  felt  on  rising  so 
high  into  the  air,  and  as  their  strange  deliverer 
carried  them  swiftly  and  steadily  along  they  be- 
gan to  talk  over  their  marvellous  escape.  They 
cared  not  whither  they  were  going,  for  their 
lives  had  been  very  unhappy  in  their  father's 
palace,  and  there  was  nothing  more  to  dread 
than  they  had  already  experienced. 

At  first  both  of  them  felt  somewhat  dizzy, 
and  HeVle  hid  her  face  in  her  brother's  robe ; 
but  Phrix'us  soon  began  to  feel  at  home,  and, 
looking  down,  beheld  his  father  pursuing  I'no 
with  a  drawn  sword,  and  saw  her  leap  with 
Melicer'tes  into  the  surging  sea. 

When  he  told  Hel'le,  she  exclaimed  :  "  Oh,  why 

1  Appendix,  Note  4. 


16  JASON'S  QUEST. 

did  the  gods  permit  her  to  do  this  ?  Since  she 
has  gone  willingly  to  the  embrace  of  Oce'anus 
she  will  be  made  a  sea-nymph  —  she  who  was 
so  cruel,  and  deserved  a  bitter  death ! "  But 
Phrix'us  said  :  "  Nay,  sister,  they  have  punished 
her  indeed,  for  look  below  and  see  the  green 
and  angry  waves.  Or  stay !  do  not  look  lest 
your  brain  should  swim  and  you  should  fall. 
Ah !  it  must  be  a  dreadful  death  when  one  is 
drowned." 

"  Not  so,  my  brother,"  Hel'le  cried.  "  The 
waves  indeed  are  green,  and  sometimes  blue; 
but  that  is  only  the  reflected  light  of  palace  col- 
umns underneath  the  sea.  For  often  as  I  sat 
upon  the  shore,  when  I'no  chid  me  from  the 
house,  I  fell  asleep,  and  in  my  dreams  good 
father  Posei'don,  and  Ne'reus  the  wise  old  man, 
and  Pro'teus,  and  the  silver-footed  The'tis,  came 
and  whispered  of  their  home  strange  secrets  that 
I  dare  not  tell. 

"And  I  have  prayed  them  oft  that  they 
would  take  me  there,  but  never  would  they  an- 
swer ;  only  when  I  awoke  I  ever  heard  the 
waters  murmur  to  the  shining  sands,  '  Tell  her, 


A  RIDE   THROUGH   THE  AIR.  17 

"  Not  yet  !  "  tell  her  "  Not  yet !  "  '  And  I  have 
waited  ;  but  the  time  will  come,  and  they  will 
take  me,  brother." 

"  Oh,  nonsense,  Hel'le  !  "  Phrix'us  cried. 
"  You  must  not  think  of  leaving  me  alone. 
What  should  I  do  without  you  ?  Just  clasp  me 
tight,  and  look  carefully  around  to  see  how 
much  more  beautiful  is  the  world  above  the 
waters  than  any  you  have  witnessed  in  your 
misty  dreams." 

Hel'le  obeyed.  Golden  Fleece  flew  with  such 
long  and  even  strokes  that  the  children  felt  no 
motion  any  more  than  if  they  had  been  riding 
on  the  moon.  It  was  indeed  a  beautiful  sight 
that  met  their  gaze.  They  had  long  since  left 
the  mainland  of  Greece,  and  were  now  nearly 
across  the  sea  which  we  call  Archipel'ago,  but 
which  then  was  waiting  for  a  name  until  the 
day  when  King  iE'geus,  in  grief  at  the  sup- 
posed loss  of  his  son,  should  cast  himself  into 
its  island-dotted  depths.  But  that  is  too  long  a 
tale  for  more  than  mention  here. 

As  they  approached  the  eastern  shore  they 
saw  below,  and  at  their  right,  the  plain  of  Troy 


18  JASON'S   QUEST. 

and  its  well-walled  city,  thereafter  to  be  the 
theme  of  many  a  poet's  song ;  while  the  rich 
pastures,  gentle  slopes,  and  rivers  looking  like 
silver  ribbons  on  green  velvet,  spread  out  a  liv- 
ing map  such  as  no  mortals  ever  saw  till  the 
Montgolfiers,  two  Frenchmen,  taught  men  how 
to  make  balloons. 

They  now  had  reached  the  narrow  passage 
which  is  called  on  modern  maps  the  strait  of 
Dardanelles',  but  which  then,  like  the  nameless 
sea  behind  them,  waited  for  a  name. 

Just  at  that  moment  a  terrific  squall  came 
out  of  a  black  cloud  under  which  they  were 
passing,  turning  Chrysomal'lus  from  his  course 
and  throwing  Hel'le  from  her  seat.  Phrix'us 
caught  her  bravely  by  the  belt  and  strove  to  lift 
her  up,  while  Chrysomal'lus  lashed  the  furious 
air  with  mighty  wings  in  vain  endeavor  to  pro- 
ceed. But  Hel'le,  instead  of  taking  fright  as 
one  would  have  supposed,  clapped  her  hands 
joyously  and  cried  :  "  I  see  them,  brother  —  the 
Ocean'ides !  There  is  a  face  in  every  wave 
crest,  and  they  beckon  me  to  go  and  be  a  sea- 
nymph  now.  So  good-by,  Phrix'us.  Loose  your 
hold,  and  let  me  go." 


THE    FALL    OF    HELLE. 


A  RIDE   THROUGH  THE  AIR.  19 

The  poor  boy,  indeed,  could  do  no  better,  for 
he  had  no  more  strength,  and  if  he  held  her 
girdle  longer  both  of  them  must  fall.  So  he  re- 
leased  his  sister,  and  with  a  swift  and  sudden 
plunge  she  fell  beneath  the  waters,  and  they 
closed  above  her.  Then  the  black  cloud  parted 
for  a  moment  and  he  beheld  the  face  of  Neph'ele, 
his  mother,  and  knew  that  she  had  taken  Hel'le 
from  him  to  be  a  nymph  and  dwell  amid  the 
ocean  caves. 

The  dwellers  on  the  shore  having  found 
Hel'le's  body,  gave  it  funeral  rites,  and  thence- 
forth the  nameless  strait  was  known  as  Helles- 
pon'tus,  which  is  Greek  for  Hel'le  s  Sea. 

What  became  of  Neph'ele  I  never  knew. 
But  if  you  look  attentively  you  will  sometimes 
see  dim  and  shadowy  outlines  far  above  you 
clad  in  flowing  drapery,  —  white,  gray,  purple, 
crimson,  green,  or  gold.  Even  as  I  write  I  look 
out  at  the  window,  and  up,  far  up  in  the  clear 
blue  sky,  I  see  the  certain  outlines  of  a  human 
face  —  which  straightway  vanishes  as  if  afraid 
of  being  seen.  Is  it  not  another  of  Neph'ele's 
children  ? 


20 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE    SON    OF    THE    SUN. 


Soon  will  your  eyes  iEe'ta's  towers  survey 

And  Mars's  grove,  where,  wondrous  to  behold! 

Hangs  on  a  spreading  oak  the  fleecy  gold. 

A  hideous  dragon  of  enormous  size 

Turns  all  around  his  circumspective  eyes: 

O'er  the  bright  spoil  the  strictest  watch  he  keeps; 

He  never  slumbers,  and  he  never  sleeps. 

Apollonius  Rhodius.  —  Translated  by  Faiokes.1 

WAY  in  the  regions  of  the 
distant  East  the  ancients 
said    the    sun-god    He'lios 
had  his  throne,  and  that 
every  morning  he  set  out 
in    his    shining    car    and 
£•  drove   his    fiery   horses 
through  the  sky,  descend- 
ing in  the  West  at  night. 
>/  How  he  got  back  to  the 
East    again    by    morning, 
there  are  various  tales  that  you  shall  some  time 

1  Appendix,  Note  5. 


THE   SON  OF   THE   SUN.  21 

hear,  as  also  of  Pha'ethon,  his  reckless  son,  who 
one  day  nearly  set  the  world  afire. 

But  'tis  of  another  son,  JEe'tes,  that  I  wish 
to  tell  you  now,  who  was  king  of  Col'dris,  some- 
times called  iE'a,  on  the  river  Pha'sis.  If  you 
can  get  an  ancient  atlas  you  will  find  this  river 
flows  into  the  Pon'tus  Euxi'nus  —  The  Hospita- 
ble Sea  —  which  you  notice  in  your  school  geog- 
raphy lying  south  of  Russia,  and  called  the  — 
What  is  its  name  ? 

iEe'tes  was  an  unusually  bright  fellow,  as  we 
might  imagine  one  would  be  who  had  the  Sun 
for  a  father ;  he  kept  fierce  bulls  and  dragons 
for  his  pets,  and  had  among  his  treasures  some 
of  the  teeth  of  the  famous  dragon  that  Cad'mus, 
Pno's  father,  slew.  These  were  a  gift  from 
Athe'na,1  and  we  shall  hear  more  about  them 
farther  on. 

One  day  when  iEe'tes  was  out  walking  in 
the  public  square,  he  noticed  that  the  people  were 
all  staring  upward  in  astonishment,  and  natur- 
ally he  looked  himself.  It  was  a  little  after  sun- 
down ;  and  he  saw  what  at  first  he  took  to  be 

1  Minerva. 


22  JASON'S  QUEST. 

the  evening  star  in  the  West,  though  it  seemed 
larger  than  usual.  But  in  some  wonderful  way 
it  increased  still  more  in  size  until  it  looked  like 
a  comet  broken  loose ;  and  at  last,  as  it  came 
nearer  yet,  all  saw  it  was  a  living,  glowing  crea- 
ture, flying  through  the  air.  Indeed,  it  was  no 
other  than  our  old  friend  Chrysomal'lus,  who, 
with  Phrix'us  on  bis  back,  had  come  the  whole 
way  from  Hellespon'tus  to  the  river  Pha'sis  to 
fulfil  the  purpose  of  the  Fates.  Having  now 
reached  the  end  of  his  journey  he  alighted  in 
the  square  and  waited  for  his  rider  to  dismount. 
Never  since  he  left  the  altar  in  Boeo'tia  had  he 
spoken  a  single  word  ;  and  now  he  stood  as  silent 
as  any  other  ram  would  have  done,  while  the 
astonished  people  wondered  at  his  shining  wings 
and  wool  of  gold. 

vEe'tes  drew  near  and  looked  with  greedy  eye 
upon  the  splendid  creature,  and  wished  with  all 
his  heart  that  he  could  reckon  him  among  his 
treasures.  Now,  this  was  a  sort  of  riches  which 
could  fly  away  as  an  eagle  toward  heaven  on 
ready-made  wings  :  nevertheless,  iEe'tes  went 
craftily  at  work  to  get  Golden   Fleece  for  his 


THE  SON  OF  THE  SUN.  23 

own.  He  accosted  Phrix'us  kindly  and  asked 
him  whence  he  came.  When  the  lad  told  him 
he  stood  amazed,  and  bade  his  followers  conduct 
him  to  the  palace. 

Chrysomal'lus  meekly  walked  behind  with 
folded  wings ;  and  when  they  reached  the  court- 
yard, King  iEe'tes  ordered  him  to  be  taken  to 
the  royal  stables  and  fed  upon  the  fragrant 
herbs  that  his  father  He'lios  had  brought  him 
from  the  Islands  of  the  Blessed  in  the  West. 
Then  he  and  Phrix'us  went  within  the  palace, 
where  they  soon  reclined  on  jewelled  couches 
round  the  table  and  partook  of  a  princely 
feast. 

Though  outwardly  the  king  was  very  kind,  he 
was  secretly  planning  how  he  should  get  posses- 
sion of  the  beautiful  ram.  He  would  have 
murdered  Phrix'us  had  he  dared,  but  every  one 
believed  the  gods  would  bring  a  dreadful  sorrow 
on  the  man  who  killed  his  guest.  And  so  if 
one  obtained  food  and  shelter  of  another,  even 
though  he  were  an  enemy,  his  life  was  generally 
safe. 

After  all  had  eaten,  and  the  wine  was  brought, 


24  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Chalci'ope,  the  king's  daughter,  a  beautiful 
young  girl  of  about  Hel'le's  age,  approached  her 
father,  and  said  :  — 

"  I  was  in  the  great  square  when  this  fair- 
haired  youth  descended,  having  come,  as  he  de- 
clares, from  far  beyond  the  nameless  sea.  I 
wonder  much  why  he  should  take  this  journey, 
and  long  to  hear  him  tell  what  wonders  he  has 
seen,  and  what  the  manners  and  the  customs 
are  in  that  strange,  foreign  land." 

Then  King  iEe'tes  smiled  upon  his  daughter, 
for  he  loved  her  much,  and  said :  "  Our  unex- 
pected guest  will  tell  us,  sweet  Chalci'ope,  I  little 
doubt,  what  will  delight  your  heart  and  satisfy 
your  curiosity  and  mine."  Then  turning  to  the 
son  of  Ath'amas  he  continued  :  — 

"  Come,  my  brave  youth,  if  food  and  wine 
have  cheered  your  heart  and  chased  away  fa- 
tigue, tell  us  what  curious  chance  has  brought 
you  hither,  and  whence  came  your  strange  com- 
panion that  lies  now,  with  folded  wings,  within 
an  ivory  stall,  feeding  upon  those  fragrant 
herbs  never  before  bestowed  on  any  beast  except 
the  sun-god's  steeds." 


THE   SON  OF  THE   SUN.  25 

And  Phrix'us  answered  :  "  Willingly,  0 
King  !  " 

And  then,  beginning  back  as  far  as  his  mem- 
ory could  go,  he  told  iEe'tes  and  his  pretty 
daughter  and  Idy'ia  the  Oce'anid,1  iEe'tes'  wife, 
and  all  the  wondering  crowd  of  courtiers,  the 
strange  tale  that  you  have  read. 

Of  the  origin  of  Chrysomal'lus  he  said  noth- 
ing, —  which  was  all  he  knew  ;  but  this  is  the 
substance  of  what  Hygi'nus,  the  Latin  fabulist, 
relates : — 

Years  before,  the  sea-god  Posei'don  had  loved 
and  wedded  a  fair  young  nymph,  Theoph'ane. 
On  their  bridal  tour  they  visited  the  island  of 
Crumis'sa.  But  the  nymph  had  many  lovers 
who  followed  the  party  and  seemed  likely  to 
give  them  trouble. 

To  avoid  pursuit,  the  sea-god  changed  him- 
self, his  wife,  and  all  the  people  of  the  island, 
into  sheep,  and  there  they  all  lived  a  peaceful, 
pastoral,  Nebuchadnez'zar-like  life  for  no  one 
knows  how  long. 

When  at  last  Nep'tune  wearied  of  a  vegetable 

1  Oce'anid,  i.e.,  daughter  of  Oce'anus,  the  Ocean-god. 


26  JASON'S   QUEST. 

diet  and  longed  for  ambrosia,  and  so  changed 
himself  from  a  sheep  to  a  god  again,  he  found 
he  could  not  do  as  well  by  his  son,  Chrysomal'- 
lus,  the  lamb  with  the  Golden  Fleece  ;  he  could 
only  bestow  on  him  the  faculty  of  speech  and 
wings,  as  a  proof  of  his  divine  parentage ;  so  he 
consigned  him  to  Her'mes,  who  had  a  profes- 
sional oversight  of  flocks  and  pastures.  Under 
the  care  of  Her'mes.,  therefore,  Chrysomal'lus 
remained  till  the  god  sent  him  to  the  aid  of 
Neph'ele  as  we  have  seen. 

All  the  time  that  Phrix'us  was  speaking,  the 
covetous  king  was  thinking  of  the  beauteous 
Golden  Fleece.  He  pondered  and  he  pondered, 
but  what  could  he  do  with  a  winged  ram  with 
human  speech  sent  by  the  subtle  Her'mes  to 
outwit  the  daughter  of  great  Cad'mus  the  drag- 
on-slayer ?  At  last  a  sudden  thought  occurred 
to  him,  as  he  noticed  how  eagerly  the  bright 
eyed  Chalci'ope  was  listening  to  the  story 
Phrix'us  told,  while  the  youth  himself  seemed 
to  have  forgotten  all  but  her,  as  with  a  glowing 
cheek  he  spoke  of  Fno's  wrath,  or  Hel'le's  fall. 


THE   SON   OF   THE   SUN.  27 

"She  loved  [him]  for  the  dangers  [he]  had  passed, 
And  [he]  loved  her  that  she  did  pity  them."  1 

So  after  the  tale  was  ended,  and  the  king  and 
Phrix'us  had  been  left  alone,  yEe'tes  told  the  lad 
that  he  would  give  him  fair  Chalci'ope  to  be  his 
wife.  Phrix'us  was  glad,  and  warmly  kissed 
iEe'tes'  hand.  And  then  the  crafty  king  ad- 
vised that  he  should  sacrifice  the  ram  that  had 
delivered  him  from  I'no's  plot,  to  Zeus  the  king 
of  gods. 

At  first  the  youth  was  horror-struck,  but 
He'lios'  son  was  gifted  with  persuasive  speech 
and  magic  arts.  He  gave  his  guest  a  vial  filled 
with  tasteless  fluid,  and  told  him  the  next  morn- 
ing to  mingle  it  with  Chrysomal/lus's  drink.  He 
did  so,  and  the  ram  sank  straightway  into  a 
quiet  slumber.  Then  a  servant  quickly  plunged 
a  knife  into  his  throat  and  caught  the  red 
blood  in  a  golden  bowl.  Phrix'us  himself 
stripped  off  the  shining  pelt,  and,  weeping,  laid 
the  body  on  the  altar. 

Then  King  iEe'tes  asked  that  he  might  have 
the  Golden  Fleece,  but  Phrix'us  quietly  refused. 

1  See  Othello,  Act  I.,  Sc.  iii. 


28  JASON'S  QUEST. 

That  he  would  ever  keep,  he  said,  in  memory  of 
his  preserver. 

So  the  king  waited. 

Time  passed  on,  and  Phrix'us  and  Chalci'ope 
were  married ;  and  in  the  king's  palace,  but  not 
in  his  possession,  lay  the  wool  of  gold.  "  Pa- 
tience!" he  often  said.  "The  clouds  dissolve 
before  the  sun.  The  cloud-nymph's  offspring 
shall  pass  away  before  the  sun-god's  child,  and 
the  precious  fell  shall  yet  be  mine." 

But  Phrix'us  seemed  to  live  forever  young. 
Five  children  were  born  to  him  and  to  his  lov- 
ing wife,  and  he  was  hale  and  hearty,  while 
iEe'tes  felt  that  he  was  growing  old. 

At  length,  one  morning,  a  report  went 
through  the  palace  that  the  son  of  Ath'amas 
and  Neph'ele  was  dead.  He  had  retired  to  rest 
as  usual  the  night  before,  but  never  waked. 
Some  of  iEe'tes'  slaves  whispered  among  them- 
selves that  Phrix'us  slept  the  sleep  of  Chryso- 
mal'lus,  and  they  looked  with  secret  frowns 
upon  the  king,  and  said  that  he  could  solve  the 
riddle  of  his  death.     However  that  might  be, 


THE  SON  OF  THE  SUN.  29 

iEe'tes  straightway  took  the  Fleece  and  nailed 
it  to  an  oak  (some  say  a  beech)  in  the  grove  of 
A'res,  the  War-god  ;  and  to  prevent  its  being 
stolen  he  stationed  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  a 
sleepless  dragon  of  horrid  form  and  monstrous 
size  to  act  as  sentinel. 


30 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


JASON    APPEARS    AND    DISAPPEARS. 

Half  ridden  off  with  by  the  thing  he  rode. 

Tennyson. 

N  the  eastern  coast  of 
Thes'saly,  a  little  south 
of  Mount  Olym'pus, 
where  great  Zeus  and 
his  attendant  gods  were 
thought  to  dwell,  there 
stood  the  city  of  Iol'cos, 
whither,  you  may  recol- 
1  e  c  t,  the  frightened 
Ath'amas  had  fled.  Cre'theus,  his  brother,  built 
the  town  above  the  Pagase'an  Gulf,1  seven  fur- 
longs from  the  sea.  They  had  at  least  three 
other  brothers,  kings  of  different  states  in 
Greece.     Of  Sis'yphus,  who  reigned  at  Cor'inth, 

i  Now  the  Gulf  of  Volo. 


JASON   APPEARS  AND   DISAPPEARS.  31 

there  is  a  strange  and  terrible  tradition  that  we 
must  defer,  but  Salmo'neus  needs  especial  men- 
tion here. 

At  first  he  lived  in  Thes'saly  ;  but  when  he 
grew  to  manhood  he  removed  to  E'lis  on  the 
western  shore  of  Greece,  and  by  the  banks  of 
the  Alphe'us  he  built  a  town  and  named  it  for 
himself  —  Salmo'ne.  He  had  a  wife,  Alcid'ice, 
and  by  her  had  a  daughter  Ty'ro.  This  daugh- 
ter loved  the  river-god  Eni'peus  ;  but  Posei'don, 
ruler  of  the  seas,  wished  her  for  himself. 

When  Ty'ro's  mother  died,  her  father  took 
another  wife,  Side'ro,  who,  like  many  second 
wives,  treated  her  step-daughter  harshly,  so  that 
the  girl  often  wandered  by  the  riverside  lonely 
and  sorrowful.  Then  the  wily  Posei'don  took 
the  form  of  young  Eni'peus,  and  being  a  god, 
he  easily  deceived  the  maiden,  and  with  his 
loving  words  he  won  her  to  a  secret  marriage. 

When  twin  sons,  Ne'leus  and  Pe'lias,  were 
born  to  Ty'ro,  the  step-mother  Side'ro  was  ter- 
ribly enraged.  She  almost  starved  Ty'ro,  kept 
her  clothed  in  wretched  rags,  and  told  such 
wicked   tales  about  her  to  the  haughty  king 


32  JASON'S   QUEST. 

that  he  almost  hated  her  himself.  Meanwhile 
Posei'don  neglected  her,  and  so  she  wandered 
sadly  by  the  river-bank  and  lived  for  her  two 
sons  alone.  But  the  fleet  years  passed  away, 
and  they  grew  up  to  be  great,  strong  lads. 

One  day,  when  they  heard  Side'ro  call  their 
mother  mean  and  vile,  and  tell  her,  with  a 
blow,  to  leave  her  father's  house  and  never 
more  return,  they  laid  a  cruel  plot.  When 
the  step-mother  went  at  night  to  sacrifice  in 
He'ra's1  grove,  the  boys  lay  hidden  there,  and 
Pe'lias  seized  a  sacrificial  knife  and  plunged  it 
to  her  heart. 

The  same  night  Salmo'neus  had  arranged  to 
celebrate  the  completion  of  a  brazen  bridge 
across  the  river  Alphe'us ;  and  now,  in  his 
haughty  pride,  all  ignorant  of  Side'ro's  fate,  he 
entered  a  golden  four-horse  chariot.  A  slave 
stood  by  his  side  holding  a  sheaf  of  flaming 
brands.  The  king  whipped  up  his  horses  and 
drove,  with  loud  reverberations,  along  the  echo 
ing  bridge,  while  ever,  as  he  went,  he  caught 

1  He'ra,  the  sister  and  wife  of  Zeus,  was  called  Juno  by  the 
Romans. 


JASON   APPEARS   AND   DISAPPEARS. 


33 


the 
lighted 
torche 
from  the 
slave      a  1 
hurled     1 
afar    throu^ 
darkness. 

You  will  think 
strange  and  boyish  sport 
for  a  great,  grown-up  king. 
And   so   it   was,    for   he   was 
trying    to    imitate     the 
Zeus,     the    king     of     gods,    who      \ 
throws  his  deadly  bolts  with  certain 
aim.1      The   clattering   of    hoofs   upon 


1  The   ancients  represented  Zeus   as  grasping  a  sheaf  of 
thunderbolts  in  his  hand,  in  token  of  his  power  over  the  regions 
Df  the  air  and  sky,  where  he  chiefly  exercised  his  dominion. 


34  JASON'S   QUEST. 

the  bridge  of  brass,  and  the  bright  torches 
gleaming  through  the  night,  seemed,  to  his 
childish  fancy,  a  fine  counterfeit  of  thunder 
and  lightning. 

But  for  his  impiety  he  met  a  swift  reward. 
When  you  learn  Latin  and  read  Ver'gil,  if  you 
remember  what  I  have  just  told  you,  it  will  be 
easy  for  you  to  understand  the  words  of  the 
Sib'yl  when,  in  describing  the  place  of  torment 
underneath  the  earth,  she  said  :  — 

"I  saw  Salmo'neus  suffering  cruel  punish- 
ment while  he  imitates  the  flames  of  Jove  1  and 
thunders  of  Olym'pus.  He,  drawn  by  four 
horses,  and  shaking  firebrands,  went  exulting 
through  a  crowd  of  Greeks,  and  through  a  city 
in  the  midst  of  E'lis,  and  demanded  for  himself 
the  honor  of  a  god.  The  insane  one  !  who  had 
tried  to  represent  a  tempest  and  the  inimitable 
thunder  with  brass  and  with  the  tramping  of 
his  horn-hoofed  steeds.  But  the  All-powerful 
Father  amid  the  dense  clouds  threw  his  thun- 
derbolt (he  did  not  scatter  torches  or  the  smoky 
flame  of  brands),  and  hurled  him  headlong  with 
cyclonic  might."  2 

1  Zeus,  or  Jupiter.  2  Appendix,  Note  6. 


JASON   APPEARS  AND   DISAPPEARS.  35 

And  tradition  further  tells  us  that  the  light- 
ning-stroke that  sent  Salmo'neus  like  Sa'tan 

"  With  hideous  ruin  and  combustion  down 
To  bottomless  perdition,  there  to  dwell 
•In  adamantine  chains  and  penal  fire,"  1 

also  set  on  fire  and  utterly  destroyed  the  city 
Salmo'ne. 

Then  Ty'ro  and  her  sons  wandered  for  many 
a  weary  day,  until  at  last,  like  Ath'amas,  they 
came  to  Thes'saly  and  to  her  Uncle  Cre'theus's 
court. 

In  those  olden  days  the  customs  of  the  people 
were  far  different  from  ours.  So  no  one  thought 
it  strange  when  Cre'theus,  first  pitying  and  then 
loving  his  fair  niece,  took  her  to  be  his  bride 
and  queen.2  They  had  three  sons,  iE'son, 
Amytha'on,  and  Phe'res,  and  lived  happily  for 
many  years.  When  wretched  Ath'amas  fled  to 
them  for  refuge  (for  although  you  read  of  his 
flight  first,  it  happened  last),  they  received  him 
kindly,  and  consoled  him  in  his  grief  until  he 
died.     At  length    Cre'theus   and    Ty'ro   passed 

1  Milton's  "  Paradise  Lost,"  B.  i.,  46. 

2  Appendix,  Note  6,  a. 


36  JASON'S  QUEST. 

away,  and  so  the  kingdom  fell  to  iE'son,  their 
eldest  son. 

This  young  prince  had  married  Alcim'ede,  a 
granddaughter  of  Min'yas,  founder  of  the  Min'- 
yan  race.  But  hardly  was  he  seated  on  the 
throne  of  Iol'cos,  when  Pe'lias  and  Ne'leus  laid 
plans  to  rob  him  of  the  kingdom.  These  two 
pretenders,  as  you  know,  were  his  half-brothers 
and  Ty'ro's  sons  ;  but  they  had  no  right  what- 
ever to  the  crown,  which  came  from  Cre'theus, 
who  was  not  their  father.  Still,  they  were  two 
to  one,  and  right  gave  way  to  might.  They 
drove  their  brother  from  his  seat  and  seized  it 
for  themselves. 

iE'son  was  a  good  man,  who  hated  bloodshed 
and  loved  peace.  So  he  did  not  attempt  to 
regain  the  kingdom,  as  perhaps  he  could  have 
done,  but  quietly  withdrew  and  left  the  usurp- 
ers to  enjoy  the  government  as  best  they  could. 
But  there  is  not  always  honor  among  thieves 
any  more  than  among  honest  men,  though  some 
would  have  us  think  so.  Pe'lias  had  half  a 
kingdom,  but  he  wanted  all.  So  he  contrived 
to  banish  Ne'leus  and  became  sole  ruler  of  the 


JASON   APPEARS   AND  DISAPPEARS.  37 

realm.  On  seeing  this,  good  iE'son  feared  for 
his  own  son  Ja'son,1  then  a  pretty,  prattling  boy 
some  four  or  five  years  old.  Next  to  iE'son,  he 
was  true  heir  to  the  crown,  and  if  he  should 
grow  up  he  might  insist  upon  his  rights.  Would 
not  the  crafty  Pe'lias  fear  this  and  lay  plans  to 
destroy  him  ?  The  father  and  the  mother  med- 
itated much  what  they  should  do. 

One  day,  as  they  were  trying  to  devise  some 
means  by  which  their  son  should  be  kept  from 
the  notice  of  the  king,  they  saw  a  slave  of 
Pe'lias  coming  to  the  house. 

"  There  is  no  time  to  lose,"  the  father  cried ; 
and,  catching  Ja'son  in  his  arms,  he  ran  out  of 
a  back-door  and  disappeared  in  the  forest. 

The  false  king's  servant  entered,  and,  after  a 
few  moments'  talk  on  various  matters,  asked  if 
iE'son  were  at  home.  Alcim'ede  replied  that 
he  was  not.  He  had  gone  out  a  little  while 
before.  The  slave  then  asked  where  little  Ja'son 
was.  His  mother  answered  that  she  did  not 
know.  And  this  was  true,  for  even  then  her 
boy  was  speeding  far  away  toward  the  moun- 
tains of  the  north.     But  how? 

1  Appendix,  Note  7. 


38  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Just  as  the  slave  arose  to  leave,  iE'son  re- 
turned. His  wife  concealed  her  surprise,  for 
she  supposed  that  he  had  fled,  and  said :  — 

"  How  fortunate,  my  husband,  that  you  come 
so  soon !  The  king,  I  think,  has  sent  a  message 
to  you." 

"  And  is  our  royal  master  well  ?  "  said  iE'son. 

"  Quite  well,"  the  slave  replied  ;  "  and  he  has 
sent  me  here  to  say  that  if  you  will  only  send 
your  boy  to  him,  he  will  adopt  him  as  his  own, 
and  when  he  comes  of  age  he  will  resign  the 
kingdom  to  his  rule." 

iE'son  was  not  deceived  by  this  fair  speech. 
He  knew  his  brother's  craft,  and  that  it  was 
only  a  wicked  plot  to  get  their  son  within  his 
power.  But  he  pretended  to  be  greatly  pleased, 
and  said  :  — 

"Your  master,  our  most  gracious  king,  is 
very  kind.  We  are  unworthy  subjects  to  de- 
serve so  great  a  favor  at  his  hands,  and  I  have 
grave  doubts  if  our  son  will  ever  merit  such  a 
father  as  the  noble  Pe'lias.  But  his  wish  is 
law.  Alcim'ede,  call  Ja'son,  and  tell  him  to  go 
with  this  good  man  to  the  king's  palace." 


JASON   APPEARS   AND   DISAPPEARS.  39 

But  Alcim'ede  replied  :  — 

"  I  do  not  know,  my  husband,  where  our  boy 
has  gone,  but  I  will  search  and  see  if  he  can  be 
found.     Shall  I  call  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  go,"  said  iE'son. 

Then  the  trembling  mother  knew  that  in 
some  strange  way  Ja'son  had  been  so  carefully 
concealed  that  he  would  not  reply ;  and,  with  full 
confidence  in  her  husband's  sagacity,  she  went 
throughout  the  fields  and  shouted,  "  Ja'son ! 
Ja'son !  "  But  nothing  answered  save  the 
mocking  echo,  that  rejoined,  "  A  son  !  a  son  !  " 

Alcim'ede  returned  in  seeming  sorrow,  and 
exclaimed  :  — 

"My  husband,  he  is  lost!  lost!  lost!  My 
boy  !  my  boy  !  Where  can  he  be  ?  Is  it  pos- 
sible that  he  has  wandered  in  the  wood,  and 
that  some  beast  has  carried  him  off  ?  " 

"It  must  be,"  iE'son  cried,  "and  just  as  his 
good  fortune  was  at  hand.     0  miserable  day  !  " 

This  was  half  true,  so  far  as  the  carrying 
away  was  concerned  ;  for  on  the  back  of  a  half- 
beast  no  less  wonderful  than  Chrysomai'lus, 
Ja'son,  like  his  father's  cousin,  Phrix'us,  had 
ridden  away  from  death. 


40 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER  V. 


SIR    ORACLE. 


To  his  quick  thought  returning  still 

The  oracle  of  Delphi  spoke, 
In  sounds  of  woe  that  loud  and  shrill 

From  earth's  well-wooded  centre  broke, 
And  bade  his  jealous  mind  beware 
The  man  with  foot  of  sandal  bare. 

Pindar.  —  Translated  by  Wheelwright.1 


HE  slave  reported  to  Pe'lias 
that  his  half-nephew  had 
disappeared.  The  usurper 
at  first  almost  guessed  the 
truth;  but  when  he  learned 
that  iE'son  and  Alcim'ede 
were  both  willing  to  send 
their  boy  to  him,  and  that  their  hearts  seemed 
breaking  at  their  loss,  his  suspicions  were 
quieted,  and  he  was  only  glad  that  a  convenient 
accident  had  saved  him  the  trouble  of  putting 
any  one  to  death. 

1  Appendix,  Note  8. 


"SIR  ORACLE."  41 

About  this  time  something  occurred  that 
drove  all  thoughts  of  Ja'son  from  his  mind. 
The  people  of  Iol'cos  began  to  be  troubled  with 
curious  dreams.  There  was  an  ever-changing 
strangeness  in  them  all,  but  always  there  rose 
the  form  of  Phrix'us,  who  appeared  to  ask  for 
help.  At  one  time  he  lay  crushed  beneath 
a  mighty  load,  and  begged  and  prayed  the 
dreamer  to  remove  it ;  again  he  seemed  to  flee 
in  terror  from  some  pursuing  foe;  and  anon 
he  wandered  restlessly  in  lonely  desert  places, 
while  he  strove  in  vain  to  speak  and  tell  the 
trouble  that  oppressed  him. 

As  the  clays  passed  by,  the  visions  took  more 
certain  shapes,  and  finally  the  shade  began  to 
sav  to  all  that  dreamed  of  it :  "  Come  to  JE'a, ! 
Come  to  Col'chis !  Come  and  bear  back  the 
Golden  Fleece !  " 

The  people  of  Iol'cos  had  heard  from  Ath'a- 
mas  the  tale  of  Phrix'us' s  flight,  but  that  was 
all.  After  the  winged  ram  had  left  the  wonder- 
ing crowd  around  the  altar  in  Boeo'tia,  no 
rumor  had  come  back  across  the  seas  to  tell  the 
children's  fate.     But  now  all  the  city  was  be- 


42  JASON'S  QUEST. 

coming  like  a  huge  haunted  house,  and  priest 
and  prophet  sought  alike  to  learn  how  they 
might  lay  the  ghost ;  so  King  Pe'lias  sent  a 
messenger  to  consult  the  most  famous  oracle  of 
Greece,  asking  to  know  the  meaning  of  these 
strange,  persistent  dreams.  Moreover,  as  the 
courier  was  setting  out,  the  king  slipped  some 
broad  gold  pieces  into  his  hand,  and  with  a  fool- 
ish superstition,  that  has  descended  to  some  like 
foolish  people  of  to-day,  he  said  :  — 

"  Ask  the  prophetess  to  tell  my  fortune  also." 

And  she  did.  But  after  he  had  heard  it  he 
never  passed  a  day  in  peace. 

The  place  to  which  the  courier  came  was 
Del'phi,  on  the  southern  slope  of  Mount  Par- 
nas'sus,  where  Apol'lo,  son  of  Zeus  and  god  of 
prophecy,  was  wont  to  dwell.  This  spot  was 
then  thought  to  be  the  exact  centre  of  the 
earth.  It  was  a  foolish  idea,  but  there  were 
some  traditions  which  seemed  to  confirm  their 
belief.     One  authority  says  :  — 

"  Two  eagles,  sent  forth  by  Ju'piter,  one  from 
the  east  and  another  from  the  west,  met  at 
Del'phi  at  the  same  time."  1 

1  Appendix,  Note  9 


"SIR  ORACLE."  43 

Now,  if  they  met  at  all,  I  suspect  it  must 
have  been  "  at  the  same  time,"  for  which  one 
could  possibly  have  met  the  other  first  ?  Per- 
haps the  writer  meant  to  say  they  were  sent 
forth  at  the  same  time. 

Of  course  you  would  like  to  know  something 
about  this  famous  oracle  before  I  tell  you  what 
response  it  sent  to  Pe'lias. 

One  day  some  goats  wandered  to  the  mouth 
of  a  cave  near  the  foot  of  the  mountain  above 
mentioned,  and  soon  the  shepherd  noticed  that 
they  were  acting  very  curiously.  They  capered 
about,  butted  each  other,  stood  on  their  hind- 
legs,  turned  somersaults,  and  finally  tumbled 
over  as  if  they  had  fits.  In  fact,  they  were 
drunk,  much  as  if  they  had  taken  ether  or 
laughing-gas.  Those  who  saw  them  approached 
the  cave,  and  soon  they  began  to  feel  giddy  also. 
They  were  superstitious,  and  they  mistook  their 
feelings  for  divine  influence.  So  a  temple  was 
speedily  built  upon  the  spot  in  honor  of  Apollo, 
and  a  number  of  priests  were  chosen  to  take 
care  of  it.  They  found  an  opening  in  the 
ground  whence  arose  a  strange  gas  which  had 


44  JASON'S  QUEST. 

caused  their  happy  feelings,  and  this  was  con- 
sidered the  most  sacred  spot  of  all.  Over  this 
hole  they  placed  a  tripod,  which  is  Greek  for  a 
three-footed  (we  should  say  three-legged)  stool, 
and  enclosed  it  within  an  adyton,  or  secret 
chamber ;  and,  when  any  person  wished  to  know 
the  future,  the  Pyth'ia,  or  priestess,  sat  up- 
on the  tripod  until  she  grew  intoxicated  with 
the  rising  vapor,  and  began  to  talk  and  act 
strangely.  The  Greeks  thought  her  words  were 
messages  from  the  gods,  and  a  body  of  priests 
stood  near  the  prophetess  and  did  their  best  to 
find  something  intelligible  in  her  jargon.  At 
first  these  priests  seem  to  have  been  devoted 
men  who  really  believed  in  the  oracle  and 
sought  the  good  of  Greece  and  the  general 
welfare  of  its  people  ;  but  in  later  times,  when 
they  discovered  what  a  mighty  power  was  in 
their  hands,  they  became  unscrupulous,  and  pre- 
dicted the  best  fortune  for,  and  gave  the  most 
agreeable  advice  to,  those  from  whom  they  re- 
ceived the  richest  gifts.  Then,  besides,  they 
made  their  verses  so  they  could  mean  anything 
or  nothing.     And  often  they  would  not  explain 


♦•SIR  ORACLE."  45 

the  oracles  which  they  delivered  until  the  future 
had  become  the  past,  when  they  tried  hard 
to  make  the  prophecy  and  history  agree.  How 
they  succeeded  an  incident  will  show. 

Croe'sus,  King  of  Lyd'ia,  was  one  of  the 
richest  men  in  the  world.  The  fame  of  his 
wealth  has  even  come  down  to  us,  so  that  you 
sometimes  hear  people  say,  "  As  rich  as  Croe'- 
sus," though  perhaps  they  never  heard  of  him 
in  history,  and  couldn't  tell  which  was  really 
richer,  he  or  Job. 

Well,  Croe'sus  sent  to  this  same  oracle  at 
Del'phi  to  ask  if  he  should  march  against  the 
Persians.  After  the  mutterings  of  the  priest- 
ess had  been  written  down  in  verse,  he  received 
this  important  information  :  — 

"  If  once  across  the  Ha'lys  thou  shalt  go, 
A  mighty  empire  thou  shalt  straight  bring  low." 

Croe'sus  paid  the  priests  handsomely,  collected 
a  great  army,  and,  having  crossed  the  Ha'lys, 
marched  against  Cy'rus.  In  the  history  of 
Per'sia  you  will  find  that  he  was  finally  de- 
feated and  his  kingdom  was  overthrown.  Feel- 
ing  a   slight   lack   of    confidence    in   Apol'lo's 


46  JASON'S  QUEST. 

foresight,  he  sent  back  a  complaint  to  Delphi. 
But  the  priests  consoled  him  by  saying  that  the 
oracle  was  correct,  but  that  he  had  misunder- 
stood it;  that  it  was  his  own  empire  to  which 
the  Pyth'ia  referred,  and  that  he  had  destroyed.1 
Now,  as  the  Ha'lys  river  was  the  boundary 
between  the  Lyd'ian  and  the  Me'do-Per'sian 
kingdoms,  the  wily  priests  knew  that,  if  either 
king  crossed  this,  the  war  thus  declared  would 
not  cease  till  one  or  the  other  lost  his  crown. 
They  probably  thought  Crce'sus  would  defeat 
Cy'rus,  still  they  were  careful  to  give  the  re- 
sponse so  it  would  be  perfectly  true  either  way. 
And  even  now,  when  a  man  makes  great  preten- 
sions of  wisdom,  and  accordingly  nods,  and 
winks,  and  shrugs,  and  slowly  shakes  his  head, 
and  utters  dark  sayings,  when  you  ask  his 
opinion  about  to-morrow's  weather,  or  the  next 
week's  election,  he  is  said  to  be  "  oracular." 
But  when  to-morrow  comes,  with  rain  or  shine, 
or  when  the  polls  have  been  closed  and  the 
votes  counted,  he  exclaims  triumphantly  :  "  I 
told  you  so  ! " 

1  Rollin's  Ancient  History,  B.  IV.,  chap.  i.  art.  i.,  sec.  vi. 


"SIR  ORACLE."  47 

And  who  will  venture  to  dispute  him  ? 
Shakespeare    had    seen   such   people.      Hear 
him  describe  them :  — 

"There  are  a  sort  of  men  whose  visages 
Do  cream  and  mantle,  like  a  standing  pool; 
And  do  a  wilful  stillness  entertain, 
With  purpose  to  he  dressed  in  an  opinion 
Of  wisdom,  gravity,  profound  conceit; 
As  who  should  say,  I  am  Sir  Oracle, 
And,  when  I  ope  my  lips,  let  no  dog  bark!"1 

Sometimes  the  ancient  oracle  was  shrewd 
enough  to  hit  the  truth  squarely,  and  in  such  a 
case  everybody  was  sure  to  remember  it,  and 
the  fame  thereof  spread  far  and  wide.  Some- 
times, moreover,  tradition  has  handed  down  a 
so-called  prophecy,  that  was  really  uttered  after 
the  event  foretold  had  taken  place.  In  such 
cases  all  details  are  found  surprisingly  exact. 
And  I  have  some  reason  to  suspect  that  was 
how  Pe'lias's  fortune  was  told. 

To  Del'phi,  I  have  said,  the  king's  courier 
came ;  for  though  there  were  many  other  ora- 
cles in  Greece,  this  was  by  far  the  most  re- 
nowned.    He  asked  first,  what  could  soothe  the 

1  Merchant  of  Venice,  Act  i.,  Sc.  i. 


48  JASON'S  QUEST. 

spirit  that  troubled  their  dreams.     The  Pyth'ia 
replied :  — 

"  In  foreign  lands  a  wicked  king 

Hath  hung  a  fleece  of  gold : 
When  the  iEol'idae  '  shall  bring 
The  precious  fell,  the  wandering 

And  restless  spirit,  bold, 
Of  murdered  Phrix'us  shall  return  to  Greece, 
And  in  his  native  land  shall  rest  in  peace." 

That  was  unusually  clear.  The  oracle  had 
outdone  itself  that  time.  Next  he  asked  for  the 
'fortune  "  of  Pe'lias  and  received  this  answer  : — ■ 

"  Let  the  king  rest  secure  of  his  throne  and  his  crown, 
Till  the  man  with  one  sandal  shall  enter  his  town." 

The  courier  hastened  back  with  these  re- 
sponses. Then  the  people  of  Iol'cos  said :  "  The 
curse  of  the  gods  must  rest  upon  our  race,  and 
Phrix'us'  spirit  must  still  wander  restlessly 
throughout  the  earth  ;  for  who  is  bold  enough 
to  seek,  or  wise  enough  to  find,  the  Golden 
Fleece  ? " 

As  for  King  Pe'lias  he  walked  ever  with 
bowed  head  and  downcast  eyes.  Not,  as  some 
supposed,    because    he    was    saddened    at    the 

1  Descendants  of  iEo'lus. 


♦'SIR  ORACLE."  49 

thought  of  Phrix'us'  sorrow  ;  nor,  as  others  im- 
agined, because  he  was  meditating  wise  laws 
for  the  good  of  his  subjects ;  nor,  as  you  may 
think,  because  his  conscience  troubled  him  for 
killing  Side'ro,  robbing  iE'son,  banishing  Ne'- 
leus,  and  plotting  to  murder  Ja'son. 

These  little  things  did  not  disturb  the  great 
Pe'lias.  He  was  just  looking  at  the  feet  of 
every  man  he  met,  to  see  whether  he  wore  two 
sandals  or  one. 


50 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"one  shoe  off  and  one  shoe  on." 

Hard  by  Anau'ros  I  beheld  the  man, 
Wide  o'er  its  banks  whose  rapid  currents  ran; 
(From  snow-clad  hills,  in  torrents  loud  and  strong, 
Roared  the  swoln  streams  the  rugged  rocks  among.) 
He  on  his  back,  though  like  a  crone  I  stood, 
Securely  brought  me  o'er  the  foaming  flood: 
This  won  my  love. 

Apollonius  Ehodius.  —  Translated  by  Fawkes.1 

P  among  the  woods  and 
mountains  of  Thes'saly 
there  dwelt  a  strange 
race,  half-man,  h  a  1  f- 
horse,  called  Cen'taurs. 
At  least  there  were  be- 
lieved to  be  such  crea- 
tures, and  this  belief  was 
so  general  in  the  times 
of   which   I  write,  that 

more  accepted  them  as  real  than  now  have  faith 

in  ghosts. 

1  Appendix,  Note  10. 


"ONE  SHOE  OFF  AND  ONE  SHOE  ON."   51 

Some  think  the  fable  of  their  existence  first 
arose  because  some  Greek  had  seen  a  troop  of 
mounted  savages,  long,  long  before  the  better 
civilized  had  thought  of  riding  horseback. 

And  this  seems  not  unlikely,  for  at  a  distance 
the  view  of  the  horses'  heads  might  be  lost,  at 
least  to  one  frightened  at  the  strange  sight, 
and  such  a  person  might  imagine  he  had  seen 
a  herd  of  monsters,  with  horses'  legs  and  bodies, 
but  with  human  heads  and  arms  and  waists. 

Their  origin  is  wrapped  in  mist  and  mystery. 
Their  maternal  ancestor,  according  to  some 
writers,  was  another  Neph'ele ;  but  this  one, 
unlike  the  mother  of  Phrix'us,  —  a  woman  that 
pretended  to  be  a  cloud,  —  was  a  cloud  that  pre- 
tended to  be  a  woman.  She  wedded  poor  Ixi'- 
on,  and  a  stormy  life  he  had,  as  might  have 
been  expected. 

The  Cen'taurs,  as  a  rule,  were  wild  and  sav- 
age, and  little  to  be  desired  as  friends,  although 
they  were  well  skilled  in  hunting,  medicine,  and 
music.  But  Chi'ron  was  a  great  and  grand 
exception.  He  not  only  was  the  wisest  of  them 
all,  but  he  was  kind  and  gentle,  and  many  of 


52  JASON'S  QUEST. 

the  noble  youths  were  brought  to  him  by  par- 
ents, who  were  glad  to  employ  the  celebrated 
Cen'taur  as  a  teacher  for  their  boys.  iEne'as, 
Vergil's  hero,  and  Achil'les,  mightiest  warrior 
of  the  Greeks  in  after-years,1  and  wise  Askle'- 
pios,  or  iEscula'pius,  Apol'lo's  son  and  the  first 
physician  of  renown,  all  these  owed  their  teach- 
ing to  the  famous  sage. 

One  day  Chi'ron  had  wandered  from  his  cave 
in  Mount  Pe'lion,  and,  from  some  impulse  that 
he  himself  could  not  understand,  had  turned 
his  steps  toward  Iol'cos.  But  He'ra  could  have 
told  the  reason  why,  for  she,  the  queen  of  gods, 
had  influenced  his  course,  that  she  might  bring 
disaster  upon  Pe'lias ;  for  she  hated  him,  and  he 
now  ruled  over  the  city  of  which  she  was  the 
patron  goddess.  Whom  the  gods  would  destroy, 
or  spare,  cannot  always  be  told  from  the  real 
character  of  the  person ;  for  in  Greek  mythol- 
ogy we  find  even  the  wicked  living  in  the 
especial  favor  of  those  deities  to  whom  they 
sacrificed  abundantly. 

But  Pe'lias  killed  Side'ro,  as  you  have  read, 

1  Appendix,  Note  11. 


"ONE  SHOE  OFF  AND  ONE  SHOE  ON."   53 

at  He'ra's  altar,  and  had  polluted  the  sacrificial 
knife  and  sacred  fire  with  the  blood  of  a  mur- 
dered victim.  For  this  impiety  toward  the 
goddess,  and  not  for  the  trifling  fact  of  having 
killed  somebody,  the  luckless  Pe'lias  shall  hence- 
forth be  pursued  by  a  relentless  foe. 

Just  as  the  Cen'taur  reached  the  edge  of  a 
wood  without  the  city,  a  man  dashed  toward 
him  carrying  a  little  child. 

"Hallo,  my  friend,"  quoth  Chi'ron,  "what 
fine  boy  hast  thou  there  ?  " 

"  Oh,  help  !  good  Cen'taur  !  "  cried  the  man 
eagerly.  "  Thou  art  skilled  in  prophecy.  Tell 
me  how  I  may  save  my  child  from  cruel  Pe'lias, 
who  has  usurped  my  throne  and  now  would 
slay  my  son." 

"  There  are  several  lads  of  noble  birth  who 
dwell  with  me  upon  Mount  Pe'lion,"  the  Cen'- 
taur answered,  "  and  learn  to  play  the  harp, 
bend  the  unerring  bow,  and  gather  healing 
herbs.  If  thou  wilt  trust  thy  offspring  to  my 
care,  I  will  instruct  him  in  the  same  pursuits, 
and  furthermore  protect  him  from  the  danger 
that  thou  fearest." 


54  JASON'S   QUEST. 

This  was  more  than  iE'son  had  hoped,  and 
he  could  hardly  speak  for  tears.  He  placed  the 
boy,  who  laughed  in  childish  glee,  on  Chiron's 
back,  and  saw  him  gallop  away  into  the  forest. 
Then  iE'son  returned  to  his  house  to  meet  the 
messenger  of  Pe'lias,  and,  though  he  and  Alcim'- 
ede  privately  rejoiced  at  the  good  fortune  of 
their  son,  they  wept  for  him  in  public  as  though 
he  were  dead. 

Meanwhile  the  young  Ja'son  was  carefully 
reared  upon  Mount  Pe'lion,  and  learned  many 
useful  arts.  He  was  swift  of  foot,  strong  of 
arm,  and  none  of  Chi'ron's  pupils  could  send  an 
arrow  straighter  to  the  mark.  At  length  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and  that  day 
came  to  Chi'ron's  side  and  spoke  as  follows :  — 

"  Good  master,  you  have  taught  me  faithfully 
and  well.  I  love  and  honor  you,  and  have 
passed  many  happy  hours  here.  But  I  feel  that 
I  am  a  boy  no  longer,  and  I  greatly  desire  to 
go  forth  into  the  world  of  which  you  have  so 
often  sung,  and  dare  its  dangers." 

Chi'ron  lay  upon  a  bed  of  fragrant  boughs, 
holding  his  harp,  on  which  he  had  been  playing 


"ONE  SHOE  OFF  AND  ONE  SHOE  ON."   55 

as  Ja'son  entered  the  cave.  Throwing  by  his 
harp,  he  cast  his  arm  about  the  youth  and 
exclaimed  :  — 

"  Thine  are  the  promptings  of  a  brave  and 
daring  heart,  nor  will  I  seek  to  keep  thee  with 
me  longer !  But  first  I  must  tell  thee  of  the 
past,  and  warn  thee  of  the  future." 

So  Ja'son  bent  an  eager  ear  while  Chi'ron  told 
him  of  his  early  life,  and  of  iE'son  and  Alcim'- 
ede,  whom  he  had  forgotten. 

"  I  will  go  back  at  once,"  the  brave  youth 
cried,  "  and  demand  the  kingdom  for  my  father. 
Either  false  Pelias  shall  yield,  or  I  will  show 
him  that  my  hate  is  bitter  and  my  arm  is 
strong." 

"  Well,  go,  my  son,"  said  the  wise  Cen'taur ; 
"the  throne  belongs  to  thy  father,  and  the 
gods  love  justice.  But  remember,  wherever 
thou  mayest  wander,  to  observe  these  three 
things :  — 

"  Relieve  the  distressed. 

u  Respect  the  aged. 

"  Be  true  to  thy  word." 

Ja'son  readily  promised  and,  bidding  his  friend 


56  JASON'S   QUEST. 

and  teacher  farewell,  set  out  to  seek  his  fortune 
and  assert  his  rights. 

He  descended  the  slopes  of  Pe'lion,  and  made 
his  way  without  difficulty  through  the  wood 
until  he  came  to  the  Anau'ros  River,  which  he 
was  obliged  to  cross.  This  stream,  although  at 
times  but  a  small  brook,  had  been  so  swollen  by 
recent  rains  as  to  present  a  current,  swift  and 
dangerous.  But  Ja'son  cut  him  a  stout  staff 
and  boldly  approached  the  bank. 

As  he  was  about  to  set  foot  in  the  waters  he 
observed  an  old  woman,  sitting  on  a  stone,  and 
wringing  her  hands  as  if  in  agony  of  spirit. 

"  Here,"  thought  he,  "is  a  good  opportunity 
to  obey  at  least  two  of  Clii'ron's  commands." 

So  he  approached  the  woman  —  who  was 
bent,  and  wrinkled,  and  gray,  and  ugly  —  and 
kindly  said :  — 

"  You  seem  in  distress,  good  mother.  Can  I 
do  anything  to  aid  you  ?  " 

The  person  addressed  looked  up  and  replied  :  — 

"  Yes ;  I  must  cross  this  river  at  whatever 
cost,  yet  my  old  limbs  totter,  and  my  strength 
is  almost  gone.     But  you  are  young  and  strong. 


JASON    CROSSING    THE   ANAUROS. 


"ONE  SHOE  OFF  AND  ONE  SHOE  ON."      57 

Take  me  upon  your  broad  shoulders  and  set  me 
safely  over,  and  you  shall  have  an  old  woman's 
blessing." 

Ja'son  knelt  before  her  without  hesitation 
and  said  :  — 

"  If  you  can  only  climb  upon  my  back  I  will 
do  my  best." 

The  old  lady  at  once  sprang  upon  his  shoul- 
ders with  an  agility  that  surprised  him,  and  he 
plunged  into  the  foaming  torrent. 

But  for  some  strange  reason,  at  every  step 
that  he  advanced  his  burden  seemed  to  grow 
heavier,  until  even  his  sturdy  frame  bent  and 
trembled  underneath  its  weight.  In  the  middle 
of  the  stream  he  stepped  upon  a  rolling  stone 
and  lost  his  footing.  For  some  brief  seconds  it 
appeared  as  if  he  must  be  swept  beneath  the 
whirling  water.  But  with  a  mighty  effort  he 
succeeded  in  reaching  the  opposite  bank,  al- 
though he  left  one  sandal  behind  him  in  the 
river-bed. 

No  sooner  had  our  hero  placed  his  burden  on 
the  ground  than  he  started  back  in  wonder  at 
the  sight  that  met  his  gaze. 


58 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


RA 


In  place  of  a 
dry  and  withered 
crone,  clothed  in 
scanty  rags,  there 
stood  a  being 
beautiful  and 
bright,  with  flow- 
ing robes  and 
golden  hair. 

"  Go  forward, 
noble  youth,  and 
claim  the  crown," 
she  said,  in  tones 
that  struck  his 
ear  like  the  music 
of  a  golden  bell : 
"  and  when  you 
are  in  trouble  call 
on  me.  He'ra 
never  forgets 
those  who  ren- 
der her  a  kind- 
ness or  an  in- 
jury-" 


"ONE  SHOE  OFF  AND  ONE  SHOE  ON."   59 

Saying  this  she  dashed  into  the  rushing 
stream,  crossed  it  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
and  vanished  in  the  far-off  forest  ere  Ja'son 
could  recover  from  his  speechless  amazement. 

He  now  well  saw  the  wisdom  of  Chiron's 
parting  words :  "  Relieve  the  distressed.  Re- 
spect the  aged  ;  "  for  had  he  given  no  heed  to 
seeming  age  and  sorrow,  he  would  never  have 
gained  the  friendship  and  protection  of  the  most 
powerful  of  all  the  goddesses. 

So  with  a  light  and  happy  heart  he  hastened 
onward  to  Iol'cos,  where  the  troubled  Pe'lias  so 
long  had  watched  the  coming  of  —  he  knew  not 
whom,  only  the  words  of  the  oracle  were  branded 
on  his  brain. 

The  king  was  sitting  on  the  judgment  seat 
surrounded  by  a  multitude.  Ja'son  pressed 
through  the  crowd,  and,  standing  before  Pe'lias 
with  covered  head  he  cried  aloud  :  — 

"  Justice,  0  King  !  " 

The  monarch  looked  upon  the  youth  and 
grimly  smiled. 

"  Whence  comest  thou,  my  good  fellow,  that 
thou  art  ignorant  of  the  reverence  due  to  kings  ? 


60  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Bare  thy  head,  and  state  thy  cause,  and,  if  thou 
hast  suffered  aught  unjustly,  thou  shalt  be 
avenged." 

But  for  all  answer  Ja'son  turned  to  those 
around,  saying :  — 

"  Ye  hear  the  words  of  him  whom  ye  have 
called  your  king.  From  his  own  mouth  let  him 
be  judged.  For  iE'son  is  your  rightful  ruler, 
whom  the  treacherous  Pe'lias  has  driven  from 
his  throne.  But  I  am  Ja'son,  iE'son's  son, 
whom  yon  usurper  and  yourselves  have  long 
thought  dead,  and  I  have  come  to  claim  my 
father's  rights." 

The  people  looked  to  see  what  answer  Pe'lias 
would  make,  but  he  was  white  with  terror ;  for 
in  the  youth  before  him  he  saw  at  last  his 
worst  fears  realized.  He  was  the  man  with  one 
sandal. 


A  CHAPTER  OF   HEROES. 


61 


CHAPTER  VII. 


A    CHAPTER    OF    HEROES. 


seat, 
hand 


He  in  whose  cause  the  Grecian  chiefs  conspire 
Is  valiant  Ja'son,  ^E'son  is  his  sire. 

The  rest  that  visit  your  august  abodes, 
Are  all  the  sons  or  grandsons  of  the  gods. 

Apollonius  Rhodius.  —  Translated  by  Fawkes.1 

THOUSAND  thoughts 
flashed  through  the  mind 
of  Pe'lias  in  one  short 
breath,  but  he  quickly  re- 
gained his  composure  and 
muttered  :  "  What  I  have 
gained  by  force,  I'll  hold 
by  fraud ! ' ' 

So  the  people  only  saw 
a  smile  o'erspread  his 
face,  as,  rising  from  his 

he  grasped  his  new-found  nephew  by  the 

and  cried  :  — 

1  Appendix,  Note  12. 


62  JASON'S  QUEST. 

"  And  art  thou  really  flesh  and  blood  ?     Ma 

Dia  !  But  I  and  all  thy  kinsfolk  thought  thee 
dead,  and  mourned  for  thee  as  such,  lo,  many 
years  agone.  What  wonder,  then,  thy  unex- 
pected coming  drove  the  red  blood  back  upon 
our  hearts,  as  if  a  corpse  had  risen  from  its 
grave  ?  For  though  we  all,  and  I,  the  king, 
most  frequently  of  all,  have  seen  the  restless 
ghost  of  Phrix'us  in  our  dreams  —  a  living, 
walking,  talking  ghost,  at  noon,  inspires  a 
graver  fear. 

"  But  yonder,  there  is  one  whose  heart  will 
throb  with  wilder  joy  than  mine  to  see  his  son. 
And  he  will  tell  thee  thou  hast  heard  amiss, 
that  of  his  own  free  will  he  gave  the  cares  of 
government  to  me,  that  he  might  end  his  days 
in  restful  quiet.  iE'son  !  Brother  !  Come,  see 
if  thou  dost  recognize  thy  boy." 

The  crowd  parted,  and  a  gray-haired  man  came 
forward  with  a  kingly  tread.  Although  the 
words  of  Pe'lias  were  false,  JE'son  did  not  then 
dispute  him,  but  waited  for  a  fitting  time.  But 
he  caught  Ja'son  in  his  arms  and  wept  for  joy. 

Then  the  king  led  them  to  his  palace,  ordered 


A  CHAPTER  OF   HEROES.  03 

a  great  banquet  to  be  prepared,  and  feasted 
them  right  royally. 

And  there  the  timid  iE'son,  fearing  lest  the 
rashness  of  his  son  would  bring  him  harm,  con- 
firmed the  lie  of  Pe'lias,  that  he  had  given  up 
the  throne  from  choice. 

"  But,"  Pe'lias  said,  "  I,  too,  am  growing 
tired  of  care,  and  of  the  haunting  shade  of 
Phrix'us,  which  ceaselessly  pursues  me  in  my 
sleep,  and  cries,  i  Recover  the  Golden  Fleece, 
and  give  my  spirit  rest.  Thou  art  the  king. 
Send  forth  a  band  of  heroes  and  remove  the 
curse  that  rests  upon  thee  and  thy  race.'  Re- 
main with  me  in  the  palace  but  half  a  year,  and 
learn  the  ways  of  this  peculiar  people,  and  I 
will  then  give  everything  to  thee.  ,  But,  till  the 
six  months  have  elapsed,  swear  to  me  that  thou 
wilt  be  a  good  and  faithful  subject." 

To  this  proposal  Ja'son  readily  agreed ;  and 
the  king  continued,  "  I  wish  to  show  that  I 
have  confidence  in  thee  and  in  thy  wisdom.  I 
have  told  thee  one  source  of  my  trouble,  but 
there  is  another,  greater  far.  Let  us  see  if 
thou  canst  free  me  from  it  by  thy  good  advice. 


64  JASON'S   QUEST. 

"An  oracle  has  told  me  that  my  life  is  in 
dan,ger  from  one  of  my  subjects.  Now,  this 
man  has  never  done  me  any  harm :  how  shall  I 
get  rid  of  him  without  murder  ?  " 

While  Ja'son  pondered  on  the  question,  He'ra, 
although  she  was  invisible  to  all,  whispered  the 
following  reply  into  his  ear ;  and  he  said  to 
Pe'lias,  quite  ignorant  that  his  words  were  an 
inspiration  from  the  goddess,  "I  would  make 
one  trouble  kill  the  other.  Send  him  to  fetch 
the  Golden  Fleece." 

Pe'lias  started  from  his  seat  with  an  oath, 
while  in  his  eyes  there  gleamed  a  savage 
light. 

"  Ja'son,  thou  art  too  wise  to  live!  "  he  almost 
shrieked.  "  Thou  art  the  man  !  and  thou  thy- 
self must  fetch  the  Golden  Fleece  !  " 

When  Ja'son  knew  the  falsity  of  Pe'lias' 
heart,  he  muttered,  "  So  the  wise  Cen'taur  told 
me  truly  after  all ; "  and  for  a  moment  he  was 
tempted  to  strike  the  treacherous  king  to  earth, 
and  so  fulfil  the  oracle  upon  the  spot.  But  the 
last  command  of  Chi'ron  occurred  to  him,  — 
"  Be  true  to  thy  ivord  ;"  and,  as  he  had  sworn  to 


A  CHAPTER  OF  HEROES.  65 

be  a  true  and  faithful  subject  for  six  months  to 
come,  he  stayed  his  hand  and  said  :  — 

"  I  thank  thee  for  the  honor,  uncle.  It  may 
take  more  than  half  a  year,  but  I  shall  win  the 
fleece  and  come  again  to  claim  the  crown."  1 

Our  hero  began  at  once  to  make  preparations 
for  his  departure.  It  was  a  mighty  undertak- 
ing, before  which  many  a  stout  heart  had 
quailed ;  for  between  them  and  the  distant  Col'- 
chis  lay  strange  seas  and  unknown  lands,  inhab- 
ited by  savage  men  and  beasts. 

Then  first  in  the  world's  history  occurred  the 
building  of  a  ship.  Up  to  this  time  the  only 
boats  used  by  the  Greeks  were  rude  and  simple, 
generally  nothing  more  than  huge  logs  with  a 
place  scooped  out  of  one  side,  so  that  two  or 
three  men,  or  perhaps  a  dozen,  could  sit  in  one  ; 
and  when  Ja'son  said  he  must  have  a  ship  that 
would  hold  fifty  men,  the  people  called  him  mad. 

Now,  I  suppose  the  trees  of  Thes'saly  could 
not  have  been  as  large  as  some  of  those  that 
grow  in  America,  for  in  the  National  Museum 
at  Washington  there  is  an  Indian  boat,  made 

1  Appendix,  Note  13. 


66  JASON'S  QUEST. 

many  years  ago,  that  is  sixty  feet  in  length  and 
eight  feet  in  its  greatest  width,  and  yet  made 
from  a  single  log.  That  would  have  held  fifty 
heroes  I  am  sure. 

But  Ja'son  went  throughout  lol'cos  crying, 
"  Who  can  build  me  a  great  ship  with  fifty 
oars  : 

At  length  he  found  a  man  named  Ar'gus,  who 
consented  to  attempt  the  work.  This  was  not 
the  Ar'gus  whom  Her'mes  slew,  and  whose 
hundred  eyes  He'ra  placed  in  the  peacock's  tail, 
where  they  remain  to-day ;  nor  was  it  Ar'gus, 
Phrix'us'  son,  as  some  have  said,  for  though 
iEe'tes  ordered  him  to  go  to  Greece  and  claim 
his  father's  inheritance,  he  was  cast  away  upon 
an  island  in  the  Eux'ine  Sea,  and  lost  his 
wretched  boat,  and  there  remained  until  the 
Ar'go  reached  the  island,  and  bore  him  back 
to  Corchis.  The  Ar'gus  of  whom  we  now  speak 
was  only  a  cunning  workman,  hitherto  un- 
known to  fame. 

Meanwhile  Ja'son  sent  loud-voiced  heralds 
through  the  land  to  summon  all  men  who  pos- 
sessed brave  hearts,  and  especially  those  who 


A  CHAPTER  OF  HEROES.  67 

had  been  his  fellow  pupils  under  wise  Charon 
in  Mt.  Pe'lion's  cave,  to  join  him  in  his  daring 
quest. 

It  is  said  that  fifty  of  the  bravest  men  of 
Greece  soon  gathered  at  Iol'cos,  eager  for  adven- 
ture and  desirous  of  renown.  Their  names  are 
given  variously  by  different  authors ;  and  while 
some  are  only  known  to  history  or  fable  by  that 
one  exploit,  yet  many  others  are  heroes  of 
mighty  deeds,  whom  we  shall  meet  in  stories  no 
less  wonderful  than  this. 

You  will  sometimes  be  puzzled  to  keep  track 
of  these  brave  fellows  if  you  try  to  follow  up 
the  circumstances  of  their  lives  as  you  would 
read  the  Life  of  Washington,  or  Lincoln,  or  the 
men  of  modern  days  ;  for  these  old  tales  are  full 
of  anachronisms,  which  is  a  long  word  for  his- 
tory out  of  joint.  Accordingly,  we  may  not 
be  surprised  to  read  of  an  especially  brilliant 
achievement  that  some  particular  hero  per- 
formed, quite  a  number  of  years  before  he  was 
born,  or  after  he  should  have  been  dead,  just  as 
if  we  were  to  hear  that  Columbus  led  the  bom- 
bardment of  Fort  Sumter. 


68  JASON'S    QUEST. 

But  boys  and  girls  are  not  generally  in  love 
with  dates  of  history  at  any  rate,  and  such 
delightful  carelessness  will  rather  please  than 
trouble  them. 

From  what  I  have  said,  you  will  not  be  sur- 
prised to  find  in  Ja'son's  crew,  Her'acles  the 
Grecian  Samson,  the  strongest  man  that  lived, 
who  strangled  deadly  serpents  when  a  child,  and 
afterwards  killed  lions,  men,  and  monsters,  but 
himself  was  never  overcome ;  The'seus,  who 
tried  hard  to  be  as  great  as  Her'acles,  and 
nearly  succeeded  —  for  he  killed  the  giant  Pro- 
crus'tes,  and  slew  the  dreadful  Min'otaur ;  Cly'- 
tius  and  Iph'itus,  who  first  taught  men  to  use 
the  bow,  and  who  never  missed  their  mark ; 
Lyn'ceus,  who  could  see  a  pigeon  fly  a  hundred 
miles  away  in  the  darkest  night ;  Id' mon,  Apol'- 
lo's  son,  who  had  the  gift  of  prophecy ;  Mop'sus, 
the  seer,  who  understood  the  speech  of  birds ; 
Cae'neus,  formerly  a  woman  whom  Poseidon 
loved,  but  whom  the  god  had  made  a  man 
whom  other  men  could  neither  kill  nor  wound  ; 
Askle'pios,  the  skilled  physician,  greater  than 
his  master  Chi'ron,  for  he  could  bring  the  dead 


A  CHAPTER  OF  HEROES.  69 

to  life ;  Pe'leus,  beloved  of  women,  and  husband 
of  the  silver-footed  The'tis,  a  goddess  of  the 
sea ;  Acas'tus,  son  of  Pe'lias,  braver  and  better 
than  his  father,  who  longed  to  win  a  glorious 
name ;  Ne'leus,  the  banished  brother  of  the 
king,  and  his  wise  son, 

"  Experienced  Nestor,  in  persuasion  skilled, 
Words  sweet  as  honey  from  his  lips  distilled;"  x 

Bu'tes,  fairest  of  all  mankind,  and  rescued  by 
the  love  of  Aphrodi'te  from  the  Siren's  wiles  in 
after  days ;  Ti'phys,  the  pilot,  and  his  successor, 
Euphe'mus,  Posei'don's  son,  who  could  walk 
upon  the  water  as  if  it  were  the  solid  earth ; 
Ze'tes  and  Cal'ais,  sons  of  the  North  Wind, 
with  broad  wings  upon  their  backs ;  and  Cas'tor 
and  Polydeu'ces,  twins,  one  the  most  skilful 
horseman  and  the  other  the  best  boxer  in  the 
world. 

All  these  came  at  Ja'son's  call,  and  many 
other  heroes2  whom  I  cannot  stop  to  name, 
though  I  must  speak  of  Atalan'ta,  who  was  the 

1  Pope's  Homer's  Iliad,  I.  331. 

2  See  Burmann's  catalogue  of  the  Argonauts,  on  p.  221. 


70  JASON'S  QUEST. 

only  woman  among  them,  but  could  run  faster 
than  the  fleetest  youth  or  swiftest  Cen'taur,  and 
wasa  famous  huntress  and  beloved  of  Ar'temis ; 
and  lastly,  I  must  tell  you  of  the  wonderful 
musician,  Or'pheus. 

He  lived  in  wild  and  wooded  Thrace,  and  was 
a  son  of  Calliope,  one  of  the  Nine  Muses,  who 
taught  him  the  art  of  song,  while  the  god 
Apol'lo  himself  gave  him  a  golden  lyre.  When 
he  played  and  sang,  the  wild  beasts  stopped  in 
the  forest,  and  turned  to  follow  after  the  en- 
chanting music ;  the  rocks  grew  loose  within 
their  beds  and  rolled  towards  him  down  the 
mountain  sides;  and  even  sturdy  oaks  were  said 
to  move  from  their  position  at  the  sound  of  that 
magic  harp. 

Some  years  later  his  great  love  for  Euryd'ice, 
his  wife,  induced  him  to  visit  the  dark  under- 
world, where  by  his  wondrous  power  he 

"  Drew  iron  tears  down  Pluto's  cheek,"1 

while  "the  airy  shades,  and  phantoms  of  the 
dead,  affected  with  his  song,  advanced  from  the 

1  Milton's  11  Penseroso. 


A   CHAPTER  OF   HEROES. 


71 


deep  mansions  of  Er'ebus,  in  such  throngs  as 
birds  that  shelter  themselves  by  thousands  in 
the  woods,  when  evening,  or  a  wintry  shower, 
drives   them   from   the   mountains.     The  very 


CERBERUS. 


habitations  and  deepest  dungeons  of  death  were 
astonished,  and  the  Fu'ries,  with  whose  hair 
blue  snakes  were  interwoven ;  and  yawning 
Cer'berus  repressed  his  three  mouths,  and  the 


72  JASON'S  QUEST. 

whirling  of  Ixi'on's  wheel1  was  suspended  by 
his  song."  2 

"What  could  not  Ja'son  hope  to  do,  with  the 
aid  of  the  Song  Wizard  and  such  mighty  men 
of  valor  ? 

1  Ixi'on  had  incurred  the  wrath  of  Ju'piter,  and  was  bound  in 
Ha'des  to  an  ever-revolving  wheel.  Cer'berus  was  a  dog  with  three 
heads  that  guarded  the  approach  to  Ha'des. 

2  Appendix,  Note  14. 


A   DISAPPOINTMENT. 


73 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

A    DISAPPOINTMENT. 

But,  Mousie,  thou  art  no  thy  lane 
In  proving  foresight  may  be  vain : 
The  best  laid  schemes  o'  mice  and  men 
Gang  aft  a-gley. 

Robert  Bukns:  To  a  Mouse. 


HEN  we  remember  that 
Ar'gus  had  nothing  to 
imitate,   we   must   ac- 
knowledge that  he  did 
well  to  build  any  ship 
whatever ;  much  more 
to  build  one  that  would 
safely  carry  such  a 
wondrous  crew  across 
the  trackless  waters. 
But   he  made  a  grand   success,  if   we  may 
believe  the  stories  of  the  past.     That  his  ship 
was    seaworthy   is    proved   by   her   subsequent 


74  ■        JASON'S   QUEST. 

career ;  and  we  may  be  sure  that  she  was  beau- 
tiful to  look  upon.  Indeed,  I  do  not  doubt  that 
she  was  as  gay  and  glorious  as  the  Bucen'taur, 
which,  after  the  lapse  of  centuries,  carried  the 
doge  of  Venice,  each  year,  out  into  the  Adri- 
atic, in  splendid  state,  that  he  might  drop  a 
jewelled  ring  into  the  sparkling  waters,  and 
pretend  to  wed  the  city  and  the  sea.1 

In  one  important  respect  it  far  exceeded  the 
Bucen'taur,  or  the  Great  Eastern,  or  any  other 
craft  of  which  you  ever  heard.  You  know  the 
mariner's  compass  was  not  invented  until  com- 
paratively modern  days ;  and  so,  if  you  have 
thought  at  all,  you  may  have  thought  it  strange 
how  Ja'son  and  his  crew  should  know  which 
way  to  steer.  But  in  the  ship  there  was  a  re- 
markable piece  of  wood  taken  from  the  famous 
Talking  Oak  that  grew  in  Dodo'na, 

"  In  which  the  swarthy  ring-dove  sat 
And  mystic  sentence  spoke."  2 

Some  say  the  piece  was  inserted  in  the  keel ; 3 
some  that  it  was  fastened  to  the  prow,  perhaps 

1  Appendix,  Note  15. 

2  Tennyson:  The  Talking  Oak. 
8  Appendix,  Note  16. 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  75 

carved  as  a  figure-head ;  some  say  that  the  mast 
was  made  of  it.  One  writer  calls  it  only  an 
oaken  bough,  cut  from  the  tree,  and  tied  to  some 
portion  of  the  ship  ;  while  William  Morris,  with 
a  poet's  fancy,  says  it  was  the  prow  itself, 
wrought  from  a  post  that  formerly  held 

"  The  second  rafter  in  the  royal  hall." 1 

Amid  all  these  opposing  accounts  we  can  do 
little  except  remember  it  was  there,  and  that 
whenever  Ti'phys  steered  them  wrong  the  sa- 
cred wood  would  utter,  — 

"  Port !  "  or 

"  Starboard  !  " 
as  the  case  might  be. 

At  last  all  was  ready,  and  the  heroes  came 
together  to  name  their  vessel  and  then  launch  it. 
To  compliment  the  builder,  Ar'gus  (or  Ar'gos),2 
all  with  one  accord  declared  his  masterpiece 
should  be  called  the  Ar'go.  And  besides  the 
fact  that  Ar'gos  was  the  builder's  name,  the 
word  means  sivift  and  shining,  and  the  ship  was 
both.3 

1  Morris's  Life  and  Death  of  Jason.    Book  III. 

2  Argus,  commonly ;  but  Argos  in  Greek. 
8  Appendix,  Note  17. 


76  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Next  came 

THE  LAUNCHING. 

"  Then  the  master 
With  a  gesture  of  command 
Waved  his  hand; 
And  at  the  word, 

Loud  and  sudden  there  was  heard, 
All  around  them  and  below, 
The  sound  of  hammers,  blow  on  blow, 
Knocking  away  the  shores  and  spurs. 
And  see!  she  stirs! 

She  starts,  —  she  moves,  — she  seems  to  feel 
The  thrill  of  life  along  her  keel, 
And,  spurning  with  her  foot  the  ground, 
With  one  exulting,  joyous  bound, 
She  leaps  into  the  ocean's  arms."  1 

Perhaps  that  is  what  you  think  happened  in 
this  case,  but  you  are  mistaken ;  for  that  is  ex- 
cellent poetry,  and  poetry  is  quite  likely  to  be 
too  rose-colored,  even  for  a  fable. 

The  facts  of  the  case  are  more  as  follows : 
when  the  heroes  got  behind  the  Ar'go,  and,  with 
one  united  push,  endeavored  to  move  her  from 
the  spot  where  she  was  built,  and  wed  her  to 
the  watery  waves  —  instead  of  "  spurning  with 
her  foot  the  ground,"   and  "leaping  into  the 

1  Longfellow  :  The  Building  of  the  Ship. 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  77 

ocean's  arms,"  she  hung  back  like  an  over- 
modest  maiden,  and  at  last  planted  her  foot  (if 
we  may  borrow  the  poet's  figure)  squarely  in 
the  mud,  and  wouldn't  stir  an  inch.1 

Then  outspake  Pirith'oiis,  half-brother  to  the 
Cen'taurs  and  ruler  of  the  Lap'ithae  :  — 

"  We  are  wasting  time  to  no  purpose,  for  we 
tread  upon  each  other,  or  oppose  each  other's 
strength.  Let  but  some  mighty  man  apply  his 
shoulder  to  the  stern,  while  we  pull  on  either 
side  with  ropes.  Come,  The'seus  !  Thou  didst 
lift  a  ponderous  rock  and  prove  that  thou  wert 
iE'geus'  son.  Now  show  thy  strength  again, 
and  help  us  force  our  unwilling  craft  into  the 
waiting  waters." 

At  these  words  all  turned  their  eyes  toward 
the  hero  thus  addressed,  who  stood  among  them 
in  the  prime  of  manly  strength.  Nor  did  he 
need  more  urging,  but  he  leaped  to  his  position 
and  awaited  orders. 

Then  they  fastened  hawsers  upon  either  side, 
and  each  man  seized  a  rope.  Then  Ja'son  gave 
the  word,  and  all  put  forth  their  utmost  strength 

1  Appendix,  Note  18. 


78  JASON'S   QUEST. 

with  hope  to  move  the  stubborn  ship.  But, 
though  the  timbers  creaked  and  groaned,  the 
Ar'go  would  not  stir,  and  the  baffled  The'seus 
and  his  followers  once  more  paused  for  breath. 

Next  Adme'tus,  the  King  of  Phe'rse,  ex- 
claimed :  — 

"  My  friends  and  comrades,  yonder  comes  the 
son  of  Zeus,  whose  strength  alone  was  lacking 
to  our  purpose.  For  he  slew  the  unconquerable 
giant  Antse'us,  the  son  of  Earth  ;  for  he  lifted 
him  high  in  air,  that  his  mother  might  not  sup- 
ply him  strength,  and  there  he  strangled  him. 
Let  Her'acles  but  aid  us  and  our  task  is  light!" 

And  all  the  heroes  shouted  :  — 

"  Heracles,  come  aid  us,  and  let  us  draw  the 
Ar'go  to  the  waiting  waters." 

The  brawny  giant  walked  up  leisurely,  clad 
in  the  skin  of  the  Nemse'an  lion,  and  twirling 
his  prodigious,  brass-bound  club  as  if  it  were  a 
wand.  He  pretended  he  had  been  out  into  the 
forest  to  quench  his  thirst  at  a  mountain  brook ; 
but  really  he  had  guessed  they  would  have 
trouble  in  the  launching,  and  had  kept  away  on 
purpose  till  the  crisis  came.     For  he  was  proud 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  79 

of  his  vast  strength,  and  glad  of  any  chance  to 
show  it. 

He  now  flung  his  club  upon  the  ground, 
tossed  off  the  lion-skin,  and  with  a  slight  curl 
of  his  haughty  lip  approached  the  Ar'go  and 
exclaimed,  — 

"  Slacken  the  rope  a  bit,  that  I  may  see  which 
way  she  leans  !  " 

Then  placing  his  broad  shoulders  against  the 
stern  he  suddenly  exerted  all  his  giant  strength, 
like  Sam'scn  when  he  overturned  the  Philis'- 
tines'  hou-2  in  Ga'za.1  But  though  his  face 
turned  crimson,  and  the  muscles  of  his  naked 
body  grew  as  hard  as  stone,  and  on  his  forehead 
stood  the  purple  veins  like  knotted  cords,  it  was 
in  vain.  He  had  hoped  to  do  what  The'seus 
and  all  the  others  could  not  do ;  but  he  was 
foiled.  .Still  he  pretended  he  had  only  tried  to 
see  if  he  could  have  a  good  firm  footing,  and 
had  not  lifted  in  earnest.  So  after  o-ettino; 
breath  he  gave  the  word  for  a  united  effort,  and 
lo  !  the  great  hulk  slowly  moved  from  her  po- 
sition, and,  like  a  sluggard  snail,  crept  seaward. 

i  Judges  16:  30. 


80  JASON'S   QUEST. 

On  either  hand  she  ploughed  a  furrow  deep 
and  wide,  that  ever  deeper  and  wider  grew ;  but 
when  she  had  already  dipped  her  prow  within 
the  shallow  brine,  the  heroes  paused  and  said  :  — 

"  The  way  grows  harder  and  our  strength  is 
gone." 

Then  the  brow  of  Her'acles  grew  black  as 
midnight,  for  he  could  not  bear  to  think  of  hav- 
ing tried  a  task  that  he  must  leave  undone. 
And  he  shouted  fiercely  :  — 

'•'  Where  is  the  idle  fool  that  built  this  ship  ? 
Show  him  to  me,  and  I  will  fling  him  forty 
fathoms  underneath  the  waves  !  " 

But  no  one  heeded  this  threat,  least  of  all 
Ar'gus  himself,  for  he  walked  mournfully  be- 
side the  barren  sea,  and  wrung  his  hands,  ex- 
claiming:— 

"  0  great  Posei'don,  that  dost  shake  the 
Earth  and  rule  the  waters,  —  grant  that  my  be- 
loved Ar'go,  which  these  hands  have  built,  may 
float  upon  the  waves,  and  I  will  sacrifice  a  hec- 
atomb upon  thy  altars,  and  pour  a  cask  of 
fragrant  wine  upon  the  salt  and  bitter  sea !  " 

But  the  sullen  Ar'go  moved  not,  neither  did 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  81 

the  god  regard  him  ;  and  the  Builder  wept  in 
agony  of  spirit. 

Then  the  heroes  began  to  chide  each  other, 
and  to  say  that  it  was  this  or  that  one's  fault 
that  their  misfortune  had  occurred  ;  for  there 
are  some  so  foolish  they  can  never  bear  a  dis- 
appointment, of  whatever  kind,  without  think- 
ing some  other  person  must  be  blamed. 

But  one  who  is  unjustly  blamed  needs  to  have 
great  forbearance  in  order  to  restrain  himself 
from  chiding  back.  And  the  Greek  heroes 
were  more  famous  for  their  bravery  than  for 
their  good  tempers  or  gentle  manners.  So  the 
hard  words  grew  harder,  and  fierce  scowls  knit 
their  brows,  and  speech  grew  inarticulate  with 
wrath,  while  Ja'son  stood  apart  with  sad  mis- 
givings as  to  the  result. 

Meanwhile  wicked  Pe'lias,  who  had  watched 
afar  the  preparations  with  a  jealous  eye,  came 
nearer,  and  shouted  with  a  mocking  laugh,  — 

"  One  thing  I  had  forgotten,  Ja'son.  Tell 
me,  quick,  ere  you  depart,  what  day  may  I 
expect  you  back  from  Col'chis,  that  I  may  have 
a  feast  prepared,  and  stand  ready  to  abdicate 
the  throne  ? " 


82 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE   ARGONAUTS    EMBARK. 


Hard  rocks  he  softened  with  persuasive  song, 
And  soothed  the  rivers  as  they  rolled  along. 
Yon  beeches  tall,  that  bloom  near  Zona,  still 
Remain  memorials  of  his  vocal  skill: 
His  lays  Pieria's  listening  trees  admire, 
And  move  in  measures  to  his  melting  lyre. 

Apollonius  Rhodius.  —  Translated  by  Fawkes.1 

UT  suddenly  arose  a  sound 
that  hushed  the  angry 
tumult  into  silence,  and 
allayed  the  passions  of  the 
heroes,  —  a  sound  of  sweet, 
mysterious  music,  that 
came,  no  one  knew 
whence,  and  no  one  cared 
to  know  so  long  as  it 
endured. 

At  first,  it  seemed  to  imitate  the  whisper  of 
a  coming  breeze;  then  it  tinkled  like  a  brook 

1  Appendix,  Note  19. 


THE   ARGONAUTS   EMBARK.  83 

upon  a  pebbly  bed  ;  anon  the  warble  of  a  thou- 
sand singing  birds  appeared  to  blend  in  one  me- 
lodious song,  that  next  was  drowned  beneath 
the  roar  of  surges  and  the  dash  of  waves. 

At  length,  amid  the  myriad  tones  of  Nature, 
there  was  heard  a  human  voice,  that  rose  and 
swelled,  in  majesty  and  power,  until  the  won- 
drous music  only  seemed  an  undercurrent  bear- 
ing on  its  breast  a  sweetly  singing  swan. 

All  things  around  were  hushed  in  silence, 
while  the  cloudy  brow  of  Her'acles  grew  bright, 
and  Ja'son  forgot  the  quick  retort  he  was  about 
to  fling  at  his  malicious  uncle. 

The  words  of  the  invisible  singer,  though  full 
of  melody,  were  indistinct  at  first,  but  finally 
grew  louder  and  clearer,  till  they  were  under- 
stood by  all  that  listened. 

And  they  told  of  the  glory  of  the  waters  and 
the  beauty  of  the  sea ;  and  of  the  changing 
colors  of  the  restless  waves;  and  how  delightful 
it  must  be  to  glide,  like  great  Posei'don  in  his 
chariot,  across  the  liquid  plain  ;  and  what  a 
sense  of  victory  must  fill  the  breast  of  one  who 
meets  and  triumphs  o'er  an  ocean  storm. 


84  JASON'S   QUEST. 

A  thrill  of  excitement  ran  through  all  the 
heroes'  veins  at  the  sound  of  those  stirring 
words,  and,  more  than  ever,  they  were  anxious 
to  embark. 

Indeed,  they  were  about  to  make  a  last  de- 
spairing effort  to  launch  their  vessel,  when  they 
noticed  that  it,  too,  was  quivering  as  if  alive, 
and  gently  swaying  to  and  fro.  Meanwhile  the 
music  swelled  and  died  away,  then  rose  again 
with  an  increase  of  power,  while  high  above  it 
all  rang  forth  that  spirit-stirring  voice. 

Suddenly  the  Ar'go  lifted  her  prow  out  from 
the  clinging  mud,  and,  like  a  courser,  sped 
through  the  shallows.  Despair  again  seized  the 
heart  of  Ja'son  and  his  men,  for  they  thought 
surely  their  beloved  craft  would  take  the  water, 
leaving  them  behind. 

But  all  at  once  the  music  ceased,  and  the 
advancing  ship  stood  still,  while  on  its  stern  ap- 
peared a  well-known  figure  with  a  golden  harp. 

It  was  Or'pheus,  the  Muse's  son,  who,  during 
the  tumult  that  occurred  a  little  while  before, 
had  entered  the  ship  unseen,  and  there  played 
and  sung  with  such  magic  sweetness  that  the 


TILE   ARGONAUTS   EMBARK.  85 

heroes  forgot  their  strife,  and  the  senseless 
Ar'go,  even,  was  attracted  to  the  waters. 

As  Or'pkeus  stood  upon  the  stern,  he  shouted 
to  his  wonder-stricken  friends:  — 

"Come!  quickly,  comrades,  while  the  vessel 
waits.  Take  every  man  his  seat  and  grasp  a 
willing  oar.  Let  Ja'son  rule,  and  Ti'phys  seize 
the  helm." 

The  adventurers  needed  no  second  invitation, 
but  quickly  climbed  the  Ar'go' s  side  and  took 
their  several  places.  Then  Or'pheus  gave  one 
final  sweep  of  his  persuasive  hand  across  the 
harp-strings,  evoking  such  a  glorious  chord  as 
sent  the  Ar'go,  with  a  headlong  plunge,  far  out 
in  the  surrounding  sea,  and  lingered  with  a 
never-dying  memory  in  the  breast  of  all  who 
heard  —  save  the  usurper  Pe'lias,  who  had  no 
music  in  himself,  and  whose  heart  was  only  fit 
for  "  treasons,  stratagems,  and  spoils."  1 

"  High  on  the  stern  the  Thracian  raised  his  strain 
While  Ar'go  saw  her  kindred  trees 
Descend  from  Pelion  to  the  main. 
Transported  demigods  stood  round, 
And  men  grew  heroes  at  the  sound, 
Inflamed  with  glory's  charms: 

1  Shakespeare's  Merchant  of  Venice.  Act  v.,  Sc  I. 


86  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Each  chief  his  sevenfold  shield  display' d, 
And  half  unsheathed  the  shining  blade: 
And  seas,  and  rocks,  and  skies  resound 
To  arms,  to  arms,  to  arms!"  x 

So  they  rowed  across  the  Pagase'an  Gulf  until 
they  came  to  Aph'etse,  where  they  waited  for 
a  favorable  breeze,  and  made  great  offerings  to 
the  Olym'pian  gods. 

At  length  the  wind,  for  which  they  waited, 
came  ;  and  they  set  sail  and  bent  their  oars  to 
cross  the  blue  iE'gean,  then  termed  the  Name- 
less Sea. 

For  two  bright  days  they  sped  along,  until 
they  reached  the  island  Lem'nos,  where  they 
disembarked. 

We  may  suppose  they  went  on  shore  to  visit 
the  forges  of  Hephses'tos,2  the  god  of  fire,  whom 
Zeus  kicked  from  the  summit  of  Olym'pus  with 
such  force  that  it  took  him  one  whole  day  at 
least  (some  say  three,  and  some  say  nine  !)  to 
finish  falling.3 

But  when  the  Ar'gonauts4  had  reached  the 


1  Pope's  Ode  on  St.  Cecilia's  Day.  3  Appendix,  Note  20. 

J  Vulcan.  4  Sailors  in  the  Argo. 


THE   ARGONAUTS   EMBARK.  87 

shore  they  fell  into  a  snare  that  might  have 
ended  my  story. 

A  short  time  previously,  the  goddess  Aphro- 
di'te  had  become  angry  with  the  Lem'nian 
women,  because  they  had  neglected  her  altar. 
So  she  took  a  rather  mean  revenge.  She  made 
them  seem  so  ugly  and  repulsive  to  their  hus- 
bands that  the  latter  would  not  even  speak  to 
them.     Then  ensued  a  terrible  tragedy. 

The  jealous  wives  rose  up  calmly  one  night, 
and,  by  mutual  agreement,  each  took  her  hus- 
band's life.  Nor  did  they  stop  there,  but  contin- 
ued their  cruel  work  till  every  male  was  dead. 

Save  one. 

Hypsip'yle,  the  queen,  was  more  tender- 
hearted than  the  rest,  and  hid  her  gray -haired 
father,  Tho'as,  from  the  frenzied  mob,  and 
saved  his  life. 

Just  after  this  event,  the  Ar'gonauts  came 
along ; 1  and  the  women,  who  were  getting  tired 
of  cutting  wood  and  bringing  water,  received 
them  with  great  kindness,  and  made  them  feel 
decidedly  at  home. 

1  Appendix,  Note  21. 


88  JASON'S  QUEST. 

It  would  be  useless,  and  needless,  to  describe 
the  thousand  wiles  and  blandishments  by  which 
tne  sailors  were  induced  to  put  their  journey  off 
from  week  to  week.  It  is  enough  to  know  that 
Ja'son,  and  all  the  rest  but  one,  utterly  forgot 
their  mission,  and  for  a  long  time  dwelt  •  in 
Lem'nos  in  inglorious  ease. 

At  last,  however,  Her'acles,  who  had  viewed 
the  whole  matter  with  disfavor,  met  Ja'son  in 
the  public  square,  after  two  years'  time  had 
flown,  and  gave  him  such  a  sound  berating  that 
he  felt  ashamed  of  himself,  and  determined  to 
proceed.  So  he  called  his  followers  together, 
and  told  them  of  his  purpose. 

They,  too,  had  become  a  little  over-rested, 
and  found  their  swords  were  growing  rusty 
from  disuse.  And,  though  most  of  them  had 
married  women  of  the  island,  they  began  to 
long  for  adventure,  so  they  were  ready  again  to 
embark  at  their  leader's  call. 

Queen  Hypsip'yle  was  more  grieved  than  any 
of  her  subjects  at  the  thought  of  losing  her  hus- 
band (who  was  no  other  than  Ja'son  himself), 
for  the  Lein'nian  women  had  discovered  that  her 


THE   ARGONAUTS   EMBARK.  89 

father's  life  was  spared  amid  the  general  male 
massacre,  and  she  was  fearful  of  their  wrath, 
should  they  be  widowed  a  second  time.  But 
our  hero  tried  to  console  her  with  a  promise  of 
the  Golden  Fleece  on  his  return. 

So  they  parted,  but  Hypsip'yle  never  beheld 
them  more  ;  for  the  gallant,  but  recreant,  Ja'son 
forgot  all  about  her  ere  he  was  ten  leagues  at 
sea. 


90 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER  X. 


FKIENDS    AND    ENEMIES. 


Though  various  perils  your  attempt  oppose, 
And  toils  unnumbered  bring  unnumbered  woes; 
Yet  shall  ye  safe  return,  ye  sons  of  Greece, 
Adorned  with  conquest,  and  the  Golden  Fleece. 

Idmon's  Prophecy.1 —  Translated  by  Fawkes. 

RADUALLY  the  shores  of 
Lem'nos  became  like  a 
cloud  upon  the  far  horizon, 
to  the  eyes  of  the  Ar'go- 
nauts,  and  at  length  were 
lost  to  view.  The  heroes 
plied  the  oars  with  willing 
hands,  although  they  soon 
found  their  muscles  had 
grown  flabby  from  lack  of 
exercise,  and  they  could  not 
maintain  the  rate  of  speed  at  which  they  first 
set  out.     But  at  last  they  reached  the  island 

i  Appendix,  Note  22. 


FRIENDS   AND   ENEMIES.  91 

Samothra'ce,  and  paused  to  rest  and  offer  sacri- 
fices to  the  gods.  Then  they  resumed  their 
seats  and  rowed  until  they  reached  the  Helles- 
pont, whose  name  has  a  significance  that  you 
will  all  remember. 

Passing  through  this  narrow  strait  they  entered 
the  modern  Sea  of  Mar'mora.  The  ancients 
called  it  the  Propon'tis,  because  it  lay  before  the 
sea  that  stretched  its  inhospitable  1  length  from 
Bithyn'ia  and  Thrace,  to  distant  Cd'chis  and 
the  unknown  North.  On  the  shores  of  the  Pro- 
pon'tis lay  the  territory  of  King  Cyz'icus,  where 
the  Argonauts  tarried  for  a  time,  as  they  were 
received  and  entertained  with  great  kindness. 
But  just  off  the  shore,  there  lay  an  island  on 
which  was  situated  a  small  mountain  called 
Bears' 2  Hill ;  and  when  our  heroes  were  putting 
out  to  sea  again,  they  beheld  a  great  number  of 
canoes  starting  from  this  island,  while  down  the 
side  of  Bears'  Hill  came  what  seemed  at  first  a 
crowd  of  animated  windmills.  Lyn'ceus,  who 
served  as  telescope  for  the  Ar'go,  was  called  to 
the  lookout,   and  soon   determined    that  these 

1  Appendix,  Note  23.  2  Appendix,  Note  24. 


92  JASON'S   QUEST. 

curious  objects  were  giants,  with  six  arms 
apiece. 

The  canoes  put  out  to  intercept  the  Argo- 
nauts, but  there  was  only  a  brisk  little  skirmish, 
for  the  Ar'go  ran  over  and  sunk  a  number  of  the 
puny  crafts  that  came  to  meet  them,  and  a  rapid 
fire  of  arrows  from  Her'acles,  Cly'tius,  Iph'itus, 
and  other  Grecian  archers,  quickly  put  the  rest 
to  flight.  So  they  rowed  and  sailed  without 
opposition  till  night  fell,  when  a  frightful  wind 
arose  that  drove  them  from  their  course  and 
drowned  the  whispers  of  the  Talking  Oak. 

They  wandered  for  a  long  time,  they  knew 
not  whither,  till  they  found  themselves  near  a 
certain  shore  and  thought  it  best  to  land.  So 
they  ran  the  ship  aground  and  disembarked. 
But  scarcely  had  they  done  so  when  the  natives 
fell  upon  them  in  the  darkness,  and  a  battle 
ensued  that  was  worthy  of  the  name.  They 
fought,  and  fought,  and  it  was  doubtful  how 
the  tide  would  turn,  until  at  last  Ja'son  himself 
came  to  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  with  the  chief. 
Their  struggle  was  brief  and  bloody,  for  the  Ar- 
gonau'tic  hero  with  a  mighty  sweep  of  his  sword 


THE    SIX-ARMED    GIANTS. 


FRIENDS  AND   ENEMIES.  93 

cleft  his  opponent's  head  in  twain,  and  stretched 
him  lifeless  on  the  sand.  Then  the  attacking 
party  fled,  and  the  sailors  waited  for  the  break 
of  day. 

But  what  was  their  surprise  and  grief,  when 
next  the  purple  dawn  appeared,  to  find  them- 
selves at  the  very  spot  whence  they  had  em- 
barked the  day  previous,  and  to  discover  that 
the  heroic  chieftain  who  lay  dead  before  them 
was  no  other  than  Cyz'icus  the  friendly  king. 
For  the  Dolio'nians  over  whom  he  ruled,  sup- 
posed the  Ar'gonauts  were  foes  who  came  at  mid- 
night to  possess  their  land. 

Ja'son  and  his  men  did  everything  that  was 
possible  to  express  their  sorrow.  They  could 
not  give  the  dead  king  life,  but  they  wept  in 
common  with  his  subjects,  and  built  a  splendid 
funeral  pyre  on  which  they  burned  his  body  in 
the  most  approved  fashion.  They  also  tarried 
awhile  till  they  could  build  a  temple,  on  an  over- 
hanging mountain,  to  Cyb'ele,  the  Mother  of 
the  Gods. 

Then  bidding  a  sad  farewell  to  the  late  mon- 
arch's subjects,  they  again  embarked,  this  time 


94  JASON'S   QUEST. 

without  any  opposition  from  the  Bears'  Hill 
brood. 

Coasting  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  Pro- 
pon'tis  they  came  to  Mys'ia,  where  they  put  in 
for  food  and  water.  Several  of  the  Ar'gonauts 
went  on  shore,  among  them  Her'acles  and  his 
favorite,  the  beautiful  boy  Hy'las.  The  latter 
bore  a  Grecian  urn;  and  while  his  master  wan- 
dered in  the  woods  in  search  of  a  fir-tree  to 
replace  an  oar  which  he  had  broken,  the  lad 
visited  a  spring  in  the  recesses  of  a  mountain 
glen  to  quench  his  thirst  and  fill  his  vessel. 
But  as  the  nymphs  of  the  fountain  looked  upon 
the  youth,  they  loved  him ;  and  when  he  dipped 
his  urn  beneath  the  waters  of  the  limpid  pool, 
they  seized  his  arm  and  drew  him  underneath 
the  surface. 

The  fair  boy  shrieked  in  terror,  for  the 
nymphs  remained  invisible,  and  he  did  not 
feel  their  fairy  grasp,  and  supposed  he  had 
simply  lost  his  balance  and  was  liable  to  be 
drowned.  But  after  he  was  once  fairly  in  for 
it,  we  may  suppose  that  he  grew  reconciled,  for 
it  is  not  such  a  terrible  thing  to  contemplate  — 
to  be  kidnapped  by  fountain-nymphs. 


FRIENDS  AND  ENEMIES.  95 

The  piercing  shriek  sent  out  by  the  fright- 
ened Hy'las  reached  the  ears  of  Polyphe'mus,  a 
brother-in-law  of  Her'acles,  who  had  remained 
in  the  ship.  He  at  once  caught  up  his  sword 
and  started  forth,  as  he  had  recognized  the  voice, 
and  supposed  the  lad  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  evil  men. 

But  the  cry  was  not  repeated,  and  by  the  time 
he  reached  the  fountain  not  a  ripple  on  the  sur- 
face hinted  of  the  incident  that  had  occurred. 
At  length  Polyphe'mus  met  Her'acles  himself, 
and  told  him  all  he  knew ;  and  they  both  went 
wandering  through  the  wood,  shouting,  "  Hy'- 
las !  Hy'las ! "  so  that  all  the  shore  resounded, 
but  in  vain. 

The  place  where  the  Greeks  next  went  ashore 
was  in  Bebry'cia,  or  Bithyn'ia,  where  Am'ycus, 
Posei'don's  son,  held  sway.  He  was  a  conceited 
giant,  and  prided  himself  on  his  skill  in  boxing. 
It  was  his  custom  whenever  any  strangers  landed 
there,  to  challenge  them  to  fight,  and  many  a 
poor  fellow  had  he  sent  to  sudden  death. 
Accordingly,  no  sooner  did    he    learn  that  the 


96  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Ar'gonauts  had  presumed  to  touch  upon  his 
coast,  than  he  strode  down  to  meet  them  and 
to  give  the  usual  challenge. 

Now  among  the  Ar'gonauts  you  may  recall 
the  names  of  Cas'tor  and  Polydeu'ces.1  They 
were  twin  sons  of  the  beautiful  Le'da,  and  the 
second  was  endowed  with  immortality.  He  was 
a  liberally  educated  youth,  and  amid  all  his  other 
acquirements  had  reduced  boxing  to  a  perfect 
art. 

There  was  not  a  "  guard,"  a  "  counter,"  or  a 
"feint,"  which  he  could  not  accomplish  with 
unfailing  accuracy ;  and  although  he  was  not 
cruel  like  Am'ycus,  he  had  no  objection  to  meet- 
ing the  boaster  on  his  own  ground  and  teaching 
him  a  lesson. 

So  when  the  king  came  striding  down  toward 
the  Ar'go,  Polydeu'ces  said  to  Ja'son  :  — 

"  Accept  the  challenge  that  you  soon  will  hear, 
and  I  will  answer  for  it." 

On  came  Poseidon's  son  till  he  had  nearly 
reached  the  ship,  when  he  bellowed  forth  like  a 
pretentious  bull :  — 

i  Pollux. 


FRIENDS   AND   ENEMIES.  97 

"  Let  no  coward  presume  to  plant  his  foot 
upon  my  soil !  Off  with  you,  unless  some  war- 
rior dare  put  on  the  cestus  l  and  do  battle  with 
a  man  who  always  conquers  !  " 

"  And  who  art  thou,  boaster,  that  talkest  thus 
with  vainglorious  words  ?  "  Ja'son  replied.  For 
though  he  knew  his  name  full  well,  it  was  his 
purpose  to  see  the  fellow  rage  a  little  for  the 
amusement  of  his  friends. 

"Who  am  I  ?  "  roared  back  the  giant.  "And 
hast  not  heard  of  me  ?  Come  on  shore,  and  I 
will  set  a  mark  upon  thy  craven  skull  which 
any  of  the  dwellers  on  these  coasts  —  if  thou 
live  to  show  it  —  will  readily  tell  thee  was  given 
by  Am'ycus,  great  Posei'don's  son." 

"  Ho  !  ho !  friend  Am'ycus,"  quoth  Ja'son, 
"  I  am  right  glad  to  meet  thee,  for  I  have  a 
stripling  here  who  has  taken  a  few  lessons  with 
the  gloves,  and  needs  to  have  some  of  the  con- 
ceit knocked  out  of  him.  If  thou  wilt  just  pun- 
ish him  a  little  first,  I  shall  then  be  happy  to 
come  on  shore  and  break  thy  head.  Come,  Poly- 
deu'ces,  just  jump  out  here  and  fight  with  the 
man." 

1  A  kind  of  boxing-glove  described  a  little  fartber  on. 


98  JASON'S  QUEST. 

The  youth  thus  addressed  sprang  lightly  to 
the  shore.  He  was  of  fair  size,  but,  contrasted 
with  Am'ycus,  he  looked  much  as  one  would 
imagine  King  Da'vid  did  when  he  went  out 
against  Goli'ath,  with  his  sling  and  stone. 

The  Bebry'cian  seemed  to  feel  insulted,  very 
much  like  his  Philis'tine  brother ;  and  while  not 
intending  to  let  down  his  dignity  enough  to  fight 
with  such  a  paltry  foe,  he  concluded  he  would 
send  him  back  with  a  headache,  and  teach  him 
not  to  meddle  with  professional  gentlemen.  He 
accordingly  advanced  to  where  the  young  man 
stood,  and  aimed  a  wicked  cuff  at  his  left  ear. 
Polydeu'ces  stood  still  as  a  stone  till  the  enor- 
mous hand  had  almost  reached  him,  when  he 
suddenly  ducked  his  head  ;  and  before  the  aston- 
ished king  could  recover,  the  young  boxer  dealt 
him  a  tremendous  counter  on  the  jaw. 


AMYOUS   MEETS   HIS   MATCH. 


99 


CHAPTER   XI. 

AMYCUS    MEETS    HIS    MATCH. 

The  giant  with  the  wound 
Fell  flat,  and  stretched  his  bulk  unwieldy  on  the  ground. 
But  soon  his  vigor  and  his  strength  returned, 
He  rose,  and  then  again  the  battle  burned  : 
With  iron  bands  their  hollow  sides  they  pound, 
And  deal  vindictive  many  a  desperate  wound. 

Theocritus.  —  Translated  by  Faiokes.1 


with  laughter. 


M'YCUS  was  surprised.  Yes,  he 
was  doubly  surprised.  He 
didn't  find  the  object  at  which 
he  struck,  and  something  hit 
him  that  was  hard  and  unex- 
pected. When  he  came  to 
himself  a  little,  he  saw  the 
fellow  whom  he  had  so  lately 
looked  upon  with  contempt, 
holding;  his  sides  and  shaking; 

The  giant  rose  and  made  a  rush, 

1  Appendix,  Note  25. 


100  JASON'S  QUEST. 

but  found  his  adversary  like  the  Frenchman's 
flea  —  somewhere  else. 

d  Not  so  fast,  my  good  friend,"  said  the  youth- 
ful boxer,  as  he  skilfully  evaded  the  furious 
rushes  which  Am'ycus  still  made,  u  let  us  put  on 
the  gloves  first." 

The  Bebry'cian  king  paused  for  breath  at  last, 
and  the  Ar'gonaut  repeated  :  — 

"  Come,  friend ;  let's  put  on  the  gloves  and 
take  a  turn." 

Am'ycus  discovered  that  he  had  no  mean  an- 
tagonist after  all,  and  so  he  choked  back  his 
rage  and  growled  :  — 

uIf  thou  wilt  rashly  rush  to  sudden  death, 
then  meet  me  in  the  ring,  and  I  will  scatter  thy 
brains  upon  the  sand,  and  leave  thy  bones  to 
whiten  on  the  beach." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Polydeu'ces. 

Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  the  com- 
bat. The  Ar'gonauts  left  the  ship,  and  stood 
around  the  combatants  in  a  circle,  side  by  side 
with  the  natives  who  had  nocked  down  to  see 
the  ■bloody  sport.  Four  of  Am'ycus'  subjects 
now  approached,  bearing  two  huge  pairs  of  box- 


AMYCUS   MEETS  HIS   MATCH.  101 

mg-gloves,  which  they  laid  at  the  giant's  feet. 
The  braggart  tossed  one  pair  towards  our  friend 
Polydeu'ces,  who  bowed  in  acknowledgment, 
but  said  :  — 

"I'll  wear  my  own  cestus,  if  you  please,"  and 
ran  back  to  the  Ar'go  to  procure  them.1 

While  waiting;  for  him  to  return,  let  me  tell 
you  that  the  boxing-gloves  of  those  times,  or  the 
cestus  as  the  Greeks  called  them,  were  not  de- 
signed like  those  of  modern  days,  to  make  the 
hard  knocks  easier  to  bear.2  The  Latin  poet, 
Ver'gil,  says  in  describing  those  of  E'ryx — 
"  Seven  hides  of  great  oxen  were  stiffened  with 
in-sewed  lead  and  iron."  So  you  see  they  more 
nearly  resembled  brass  knuckles  than  sporting 
gloves. 

And  really,  their  object  was  to  lend  additional 
force  to  blows  —  inertia,  the  philosophers  call  it 
—  just  as  a  boy  can  jump  farther  with  a  brick 
in  each  hand.  The  cestus  were  made  of  strips 
of  raw  hide,  fastened  end  to  end,  so  as  to  form 
one  continuous  string  or  thong.  This  was  then 
wound  about  the  hand  and  arm,  nearly  to  the 

1  Appendix,  Note  26.  2  Appendix,  Note  27. 


102  JASON'S   QUEST. 

elbow.  Over  the  knuckles,  as  well  as  in  some 
other  parts,  there  were  usually  fastened  bits  of 
iron,  or  some  heavy  metal,  to  make  the  blows 
more  terrible. 

Polydeu'ces  quickly  returned,  and  each  side 
helped  its  duelist  array  himself  for  the  fight. 
At  length  all  was  ready,  and  the  ring  enlarged 
as  the  two  boxers,  of  such  unequal  size,  stepped 
forth  to  meet  each  other. 

Am'ycus  had  learned  wisdom  from  his  first 
vainglorious  attempt,  and  advanced  more  warily. 
His  adversary  moved  forward  a  few  paces,  and 
then  stood  with  both  arms  hanging  by  his  sides, 
and  a  slight  smile  on  his  face,  gazing  with 
unqu ailing  eye  upon  the  approaching  giant, 
whose  features  were  working  with  ill-suppressed 
rage.  For  a  moment  the  braggart  paused,  after 
he  came  within  striking  distance,  and  then  — 
No  one  could  tell  what  followed,  save  that  the 
Bebry'cian  monarch  launched  the  first  blow. 
Then  there  ensued  such  a  confused  mingling  of 
arms,  upward,  downward,  hither,  thither,  for- 
ward, backward,  like  flashes  of  light,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  tell  who  struck  or  who  parried. 


POLYDEUCES    VANQUISHES 
AMYCUS. 


AMYCUS  MEETS   HIS   MATCH.  103 

Meanwhile,  the  Ar'gonaut  was  giving  ground. 
He  circled  backward  once  around  the  ring,  while 
his  foe  pressed  him  hotly.  Or  was  it  his  pur- 
pose thus  to  throw  the  giant  off  his  guard  ?  But 
the  flying  arms  never  once  ceased  or  slackened 
upon  either  side,  though  a  stream  of  blood 
appeared  on  Polydeu/ces'  forehead,  and  trickled 
down  his  cheek.  Suddenly  Le'da's  son  stooped 
to  the  earth,  and,  while  the  giant's  cestus  hurtled 
harmlessly  in  air,  the  nimble  youth  sprang  up  at 
his  opponent's  side  and  launched  a  stroke  as 
quick  and  deadly  as  Jove's  thunderbolt,  that 
took  effect  upon  Am'ycus  just  below  the  ear. 

Then  like  to  some  gigantic  mountain  pine, 
whose  trunk  has  just  been  severed  by  the  wood- 
man's axe,  but  for  an  instant  still  declines  to 
fall,  so  stood  the  huge  Bebry'cian.  erect  but  tot- 
tering, until  his  trembling  knees  refused  support, 
and  he  fell  prostrate  on  the  shore.  A  moment- 
ary quiver  ran  through  his  mighty  frame,  then 
all  was  still ;  for  with  Polydeu'ces'  final  blow  his 
neck  was  broken. 

A  cry  of  horror  and  a  shout  of  victory  went 
up  to  the  sky  from  the  mouths  of  the  commin- 


104  JASON'S   QUEST. 

gled  multitude ;  and  Ja'son  stepped  forth  and 
proudly  grasped  the  victor's  hand,  exclaim- 
ing: — 

"  Bravely  done  !  Nobly  won  !  But  you  are 
injured,  I  fear." 

"  Oh,  that  is  nothing !  "  the  hero  answered ; 
"  merely  a  scratch  that,  I'm  ashamed  to  say,  the 
fellow  managed  to  give  me.  But  he'll  never 
trouble  any  more  innocent  men,  as  he  has  done 
so  many  times  in  the  past." 

The  Ar'gonauts  tarried  there  a  time  and  cele- 
brated the  victory  in  fine  style,  and  the  Bebry'- 
cians  were  called  upon  to  furnish  all  the  animals 
sufficient  for  food  and  sacrifices. 

By  and  by  our  friends  put  off  from  the  Bebry'- 
cian  coast,  and  tended  whither  the  Talking  Oak 
directed.  But,  as  they  proceeded,  the  heavens 
grew  black  as  night,  the  lightnings  flashed,  and 
the  thunder  roared  until  they  thought  they 
surely  should  be  lost. 

Then  Or'pheus  caught  his  harp,  and  struck  a 
chord  in  unison  with  the  tempest ;  and  the  ship 
rocked  to  and  fro  upon  the  angry  surges  with 
still  greater  violence,  and  all  the  heroes  prayed 


AMYCUS  MEETS   HIS  MATCH.  105 

that  he  would  cease.  But  the  great  Song  Wizard 
knew  his  power,  and  heeded  not  their  demand. 
And  finally,  the  harp  tones  grew  less  boisterous 
and  more  full  of  melody ;  and  strange  to  say, 
the  roaring  waves  abated  of  their  wrath,  and  the 
hurricane  subsided  to  a  whistling  wind  that 
wailed  a  weird  accompaniment  to  the  persuasive 
music.  Then  Or'pheus  raised  his  voice  in  song, 
for  he  was  the  first  of  men  thus  to  add  thrilling 
harmony  to  the  tones  of  the  golden  shell.  And 
he  invoked  the  deities  of  Samothra'ce,  the  curi- 
ous Cabi'ri  who  were  said  to  wander  over  the 
world  like  newly-hatched  partridges,  with  a  half 
eggshell  on  their  heads,  but  who  controlled  the 
storm  winds  in  their  wrath.  And  while  he  sung, 
the  boiling  waves  grew  calm,  and,  sobbing,  sank 
beneath  the  Ar'go's  prow ;  for  the  Cabi'ri  heard 
the  Wizard's  prayer,  and  they  appeared  as  a  ball 
of  fire  upon  the  pointed  mast,  and  as  bright 
stars  upon  the  heads  of  Le'da's  sons,  Cas'tor  and 
Polydeu'ces. 

Then  they  sailed  through  the  rough-rolling 
Bos'porus  (which  means  Ox'f ord,  or  rather  Cow'- 
ford,  since  across  it  the  beautiful  I'o  swam  when, 


106  JASON'S  QUEST. 

under  the  form  of  a  heifer,  she  was  pursued  by 
a  gadfly  which  the  jealous  He'ra  sent  to  torture 
her),  and,  turning  north,  they  came  by  dawn  of 
day  to  Salmydes'sus,  on  the  Eux'ine  coast  of 
Thrace.1 

Phi'neus,  the  king,  had  married  a  daughter  of 
the  North  Wind,  and  a  sister  to  Ze'tes  and 
Cal'ais,  who,  you  may  remember,  were  among 
our  heroes.  The  king  had  two  noble  sons ;  but 
their  mother  died,  and  Phi'neus  took  another 
wife,  Idse'a,  who  told  such  wicked  tales  about 
the  boys,  that  their  father  put  out  their  eyes  and 
shut  them  up  in  prison.  But  the  gods  were 
angry,  and  wicked  Idoe'a  was  probably  killed  by 
a  thunderbolt,  as  she  deserved,  while  Phi'neus 
himself  was  blinded,  and  the  Har'pies  were  sent 
to  pollute  his  tables.2 

The  Har'pies  were  female  monsters,  half 
human  and  half  bird,  filthy  and  terrible  in 
their  appearance ;  and  whenever  the  tables 
were  set  for  the  king  to  eat,  they  at  once 
flew  in,  and  either  ate  all  the  food  them- 
selves, before  the  blind  old  monarch  could  get 

1  Appendix,  Note  28.  2  Appendix,  Note  29. 


AMYOUS  MEETS  HIS  MATCH.  107 

fairly  seated,  or  else  they  trampled  on  the  viands 
so  that  poor  Phi'neus  would  rather  starve  than 
taste. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  the  Ar- 
gonauts arrived,  and  Ze'tes  and  Cal'ais  disem- 
barked to  take  yet  further  vengeance  on  the 
king  for  the  grievous  wrong  done  to  their  sis- 
ter's children.  But  when  they  saw  the  terrible 
scourge  of  the  sightless  old  man,  and  found  that 
he  had  freed  his  sons,  and  was  truly  sorry  for 
their  sufferings,  compassion  seized  the  hearts  of 
the  winged  brothers,  and  they  decided  to  leave 
all  vengeance  with  the  gods.  But  Phi'neus  was 
a  seer  if  he  couldn't  see,  and  he  besought  the 
Ar'gonauts  to  drive  the  Har'pies  from  his  house, 
and,  in  return,  he  said  he  would  give  them  some 
directions  which  they  must  needs  know  concern- 
ing their  journey,  or  they  would  never  reach  the 
Golden  Fleece. 

So  the  North  Wind's  sons  told  Ja'son  and  his 
men  the  words  of  Phi'neus,  and  they  went  up 
to  talk  the  matter  over. 

And  Phi'neus  told  them  that  their  route  lay 
between  the  Cya'neoe  Sympleg'ades,  or  Dark  Blue 


108  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Dashers,  which  were  floating  rocks,  just  beyond 
the  entrance  of  the  Eux'ine  Sea.  And  when 
any  boat  attempted  to  pass  through,  they  came 
together  with  a  mighty  crash. 

"  You  may  not  be  able  to  pass  through  at  all," 
said  Phi'neus,  "  but  I  can  tell  you  the  only  pos- 
sible way  of  knowing  if  you  can,  and  if  you  suc- 
ceed, the  coming  ages  will  call  you  blessed ;  for 
the  fates  decree  that  when  once  a  vessel  glides 
in  safety  through  those  rocky  jaws,  the  Dark 
Blue  Dashers  shall  be  rooted  to  the  deep." 

Just  then  Plexip'pus  and  Pandi'on,  the  king's 
sons,  came  bounding  in,  and  flung  their  arms 
about  their  father's  neck,  exclaiming,  — 

"  We  can  see  !  we  can  see  !  !  we  can  see  ! ! !  " 

And,  sure  enough,  they  could,  and  their  bright 
eyes  sparkled  as  you  can  imagine  ;  for  while  the 
others  had  been  listening  to  the  king,  Askle'pios 
had  spied  the  blinded  youths,  and  induced  them 
to  anoint  their  eyes  with  a  wonderful  salve  that 
he  had  made,  and  this  restored  their  sight. 

Phi'neus  wept  for  joy. 

"  My  innocent,  injured  boys,"  he  said,  "  I  do 
not  value  being  blind,  since  you,  at  last,  can  look 


AMYCUS   MEETS   HIS   MATCH.  109 

upon  the  light ;  now  if  we  might  only  gather 
round  an  unpolluted  table,  ours  would  be  indeed 
a  happy  home." 

But  Ja'son  answered  :  — 

"  Tell  us  the  secret  of  our  course,  0  prophet- 
prince,  and  I  will  pledge  my  word  that  thou 
shalt  look  upon  a  smiling  world  again,  and  feast 
upon  the  choicest  viands  undisturbed." 


110 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


EASTWAKD    HO  ! 


Through  the  great  gulf  shot  Ar'go  like  a  bird  — 
And  by  and  by  reached  Pha'sis,  ne'er  o'erta'en 

By  those  in-rushing  rocks,  that  have  not  stirred 
Since  then,  but  bask,  twin  monsters,  on  the  main. 

Theocritus.  —  Translated  by  Calverley.1 

HE      blind     king     gladly 

agreed   to   the    proposed 

bargain,  but  hinted  that 

a  glimpse  of  the  Present 

J  might  enable  him  to  look 

farther  into   the  Future. 

This  seemed  logical 

enough,  and  Ja'son  agreed 

to  perform  his  part  of  the 

*  contract  first. 

Accordingly,  he  called  for  volunteers  to  drive 

the  terrible  Har'pies  from  Phi'neus's  table,  and 

i  Appendix,  Note  30. 


EASTWARD  HO  ! 


Ill 


Ze'tes  and  Cal'ais,  like  generous  gentlemen,  prof- 
fered their  services.  Indeed,  they  were  the  only 
persons   capable   of   waging   a    successful    war 


THE   PURSUIT   OF   THE    HARPIES. 

against  the  pests,  since  they  alone  had  wings, 
and  could  pursue  the  filthy,  feathered  monsters 
through  the  air.  Their  services  were  accepted, 
and  when  the  tables  had  been  spread   afresh, 


112  JASON'S   QUEST. 

and  the  foul  creatures  came  with  horrid  cries  to 
spoil  the  banquet,  the  sons  of  Bo'reas  dashed 
towards  them.  The  Har'pies  flew  swiftly  away, 
but  the  brothers  soared  aloft,  and  pursued  them. 
Over  land  and  sea  the  sisters  fled,  yet  their  in- 
exorable foes  never  tired,  but  followed  in  their 
wake  until  they  reached  a  group  of  islands  to 
the  west  of  Greece.  There  the  weary  half- 
breeds  sank  exhausted,  and  would  soon  have 
lost  their  lives  had  not  the  many-colored  Fris, 
the  swift  messenger  of  the  gods,  appeared,  and 
put  a  stop  to  further  proceedings.  She  effected 
a  compromise  with  the  strong-winged  brothers, 
by  which  they  agreed  to  turn  back  if  the  Har'- 
pies  would  give  a  solemn  oath  never  to  trouble 
Phi'neus  more.  This  they  gladly  swore,  and 
Ze'tes  and  Cal'ais  departed ;  while  the  islands 
were  thenceforth  termed  Stroph'ades,  from  the 
Greek  word  strepho  —  to  turn  back. 

Meanwhile  Askle'pios,  the  great  physician,  had 
anointed  Phi'neus' s  eyes  with  some  strange 
compound ; *  and  the  King,  having  rubbed  them 
briskly  and  finding  that  he  could  see  again, 
winked  at  Ja'son  and  observed  :  — 

1  Appendix,  Note  31. 


EASTWARD   110 !  113 

"  You'll  discover  that  this  has  been  a  big  bar- 
gain on  both  sides,  for  without  me  the  Dark 
Blue  Dashers  would  have  closed  upon  your  bark 
like  monstrous  shears,  or  rather  nut-crackers, 
and  there  would  have  been  an  end  of  Ar'go  and 
of  Ar'gonauts.  But  I  will  give  you  a  trusty 
pilot,  who  will  decide  whether  you  can  make 
the  passage,  and,  if  so,  with  what  success." 

So  saying,  he  entered  an  inner  room  and 
brought  forth  a  beautiful  pigeon,  which  he 
gave  the  Argonau'tic  leader.  And  he  told  him, 
when  he  came  near  the  dreaded  rocks,  to  loose 
the  pigeon  from  the  ship  and  mark  with  care 
its  course.  And  if  it  flew  backward  they  must 
return  ;  but,  if  forward,  they  must  strain  their 
eyeballs  to  see  how  it  fared  ;  and  if  it  passed 
uninjured  they  should  bend  their  oars  with 
mis;ht  and  main  to  follow  in  its  wake  —  for  as 
the  bird  succeeded,  so  would  they. 

The  Ar'gonauts  thanked  Phi/neus,andas  Ze'tes 
and  Cal'ais  had  by  this  time  returned,  they  again 
resumed  their  course.  Soon  the  Clashinc<;  Islands 
came  in  sight,  looking  like  floating  icebergs, 
with  their  cold  blue  peaks  ;  and  ever  and  anon 


114  JASON'S   QUEST. 

they  came  together  like  a  pair  of  ringing  cym- 
bals, and  then  bounded  back  a  space,  while 
the  swirling  waters  tossed  their  foamy  crests 
above  the  topmost  cliffs.  Homer  thus  describes 
them  :  — 

"  High  o'er  the  main  two  rocks  exalt  their  brow, 
The  boiling  billows  thundering  roll  below; 
Through  the  vast  waves  the  dreadful  wonders  move, 
Hence  named  Erratic  by  the  gods  above. 
No  bird  of  air,  no  dove  of  swiftest  wing, 
That  bears  ambrosia  to  th'  ethereal  king, 
Shuns  the  dire  rocks:  in  vain  she  cuts  the  skies, 
The  dire  rocks  meet  and  crush  her  as  she  flies; 
Not  the  fleet  bark,  when  prosperous  breezes  play, 
Ploughs  o'er  that  roaring  surge  its  desperate  way; 
O'erwhelmed  it  sinks,  while  round  a  smoke  expires, 
And  the  waves  flashing  seem  to  burn  with  fires. 
Scarce  the  famed  Ar'go  passed  these  raging  floods, 
The  sacred  Ar'go  filled  with  demigods ! 
Even  she  had  sunk,  but  Jove's  imperial  bride 
Winged  her  fleet  sail  and  pushed  her  o'er  the  tide. 

High  in  the  air  the  rock  its  summit  shrouds 

In  brooding  tempests  and  in  rolling  clouds: 

Loud  storms  around,  and  mists  eternal  rise, 

Beat  its  bleak  brow,  and  intercept  the  skies. 

Impervious  to  the  step  of  man  it  stands, 

Though  borne  by  twenty  feet,  though  armed  with  twenty  hands ; 

Smooth  as  the  polish  of  the  mirror  rise 

The  slippery  sides,  and  shoot  into  the  skies. 

Full  in  the  centre  of  this  rock  displayed, 

A  yawning  cavern  casts  a  dreadful  shade : 


EASTWARD   110 !  115 

Nor  the  fleet  arrow  from  the  twanging  bow, 

Sent  with  full  force,  could  reach  the  depth  below. 

Wide  to  the  west  the  horrid  gulf  extends, 

And  the  dire  passage  down  to  hell  descends. 

O  fly  the  dreadful  sight!  expand  thy  sails, 

Ply  the  strong  oar  and  catch  the  nimble  gales!"  * 

Mop'sus 2  stood  upon  the  prow,  holding  the 
fateful  pigeon  in  his  hand,  for  he  alone  could 
understand  its  cooing  notes.  By  his  side  stood 
Lyn'ceus,  the  Living  Telescope.  Ti'phys  held 
firmly  to  the  rudder,  while  Ja'son  directed  the 
Ar'go  as  near  to  the  sportive  breakers  as  he 
dared. 

Suddenly  the  bird  cried  :  — 

"  Coo  !  Coo  !  Coo-oo-oo  !  Coo-coo  /  Coo  ! 
Coo-coo-coo-aA  /  " 

Which  Mop'sus  readily  interpreted,  as  it  was 
pigeon-Greek  for  — 

"  If  this  Boeo'tian  would  only  let  me  go,  I 
could  fly  through  there  now  !  Sure  as  an 
arrow  !  " 

The  "  Boeo'tian  "  3  did  not  stop  to  resent  this 
freedom  of  speech.     He   loosed  his  grasp,  and 

1  Appendix,  Note  32. 

2  Appendix,  Note  33. 

3  Appendix,  Note  34. 


116  JASON'S   QUEST. 

away  sped  the  feathered  pilot  amid  the  spray, 
and  was  soon  lost  to  sight. 

^hat  is  to  say,  she  passed  beyond  the  vision 
of  all  the  other  Argonauts,  but 

"Lynceus,  whose  searching  ken  'bove  all  mankind 
The  clearest,  keenest  glance  supplied," 

stood  with  flushed  face  and  parted  lips  gazing 
beyond  those  gloomy  gates  of  death  ;  and  when 
at  last  the  white-winged  messenger  seemed 
safe,  he  signalled  Jason  to  advance. 

So  the  commander  gave  the  word,  and  the 
brawny  sailors  bent  above  the  ashen  oars,  and 
the  quivering  Ar'go  surged  forward  on  the  waves. 

"  There  she  goes  !  Now  after  her  !  "  Lyn'- 
ceus  cried.  "Quick!  quick!  Oh,  heavens! 
Hold !  Back,  for  your  lives !  The  rocks  have 
caught  the  bird  !  " 

The  adventurous  crew  were  now  within  a 
cable's  length,  when  the  Dashers  struck  together 
with  a  hideous  clang  that  rilled  the  heroes' 
hearts  with  horror.  But  their  recoil  was  swift, 
and  Lyn'ceus,  looking  with  blanched  cheek,  yet 
undimmed  eye,  shrieked,  in  a  voice  that  rang 


BETWEEN    THE    SYMPLEGADES. 


EASTWARD   HO!  117 

out  through  the  roar,  "  No !  no !  Not  back  ! 
Forward!  Forward  ! !  " 

In  their  endeavors  to  back  water,  the  Argo- 
nau'tic  oarsmen  had  just  succeeded  in  overcom- 
ing the  impetus  of  their  seemingly  doomed  craft, 
and  it  now  rocked  like  an  egg-shell  on  the  boil- 
ing surge,  which  threatened  to  ingulf  it.  But 
quickly,  at  the  last  command,  they,  as  one  man, 
bent  to  their  blades  again,  and  sent  the  Ar'go 
between  the  now-retreating  cliffs. 

For  as  the  Sympleg' ades  separated,  Lyn'ceus 
saw  that  they  had  only  caught  a  feather  from 
the  pigeon's  tail,  while  the  uninjured  bird 
skimmed  merrily  away.  So,  with  full  confi- 
dence in  Phi'neus's  prophecy,  he  countermanded 
his  last  order  with  the  following  result. 

Obedient  to  the  oars  and  helm,  the  Grecian 
vessel  flew  between  the  yawning  jaws  of  earth 
and  rock ;  but,  even  as  they  passed,  the  cliffs 
again  closed  upon  each  other,  and  the  seer's  pre- 
diction was  fulfilled. 

For  as  the  dove  had  lost  a  feather  from  its 
tail,  but  flew  away  unharmed,  so  the  Floating 
Islands  crushed  a  few  gilded   ornaments  upon 


118  JASON'S  QUEST. 

the  Ar'go's  stern,  and  that  was  all ;  —  the  pant- 
ing heroes  glided  safely  on  the  waters  of  the 
mighty  Eux'ine  Sea. 

The  Dark  Blue  Dashers  recoiled,  as  usual, 
but  never  met  again.  The  decree  of  the  Fates 
was  inevitable,  and  when  the  Ar  go  had  passed 
safely  through  they  took  a  fixed  position  on 
the  ocean-bed,  and  there  they  stand  to-day. 

The  Argonauts  next  stopped  at  the  court  of 
King  Ly'cus,  on  the  southern  shore  of  the  Eux'- 
ine  (though  some  say  his  territory  lay  on  the 
Propon'tis),  and  while  there,  Id'mon,  one  of 
their  companions,  was  wounded  by  a  wild  boar, 
and  died.  Ti'phys,  the  pilot,  also  died,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  choose  a  new  steersman. 
Now  I  have  elsewhere  *  told  you  this  was  Euphe'- 
mus,  Posei'don's  son  ;  but  some  say  it  was  Ergi'- 
nus,  his  brother,  while  others  declare  the  station 
fell  to  Ancse'us,  yet  another  brother.  At  any 
rate,  the  pilot  was  a  man  whose  father  ruled  the 
waves,  and  would  naturally  be  careful  of  his 
boys,  although  he  now  and  then  stirred  up  the 
deep  a  little,  just  to  try  their  mettle. 

i  Page  69. 


EASTWARD   HO!  119 

A  story  is  told  of  Ancge'us,  in  after  years, 
that  T  must  stop  to  give  you. 

He  was  beating  a  slave  in  his  vineyard,  when 
the  injured  bondman  turned  upon  him  with  an 
evil  look  and  said  :  — 

"  Thou  shalt  never  drink  a  drop  of  wine  from 
this  vintage." 

Ancge'us  only  laughed  and  flogged  the  fellow 
yet  more  severely ;  and  as  soon  as  the  grapes 
were  gathered  he  ordered  a  cup  of  the  juice  to 
be  pressed  out,  and  sent  for  the  slave. 

"  See,  thou  knave,  the  falsehood  of  thy  proph- 
ecy !  I  shall  drain  this  liquor  and  then  beat 
thee  again,  for  lying." 

But  the  slave  smiled  grimly  and  replied  in 
Greek  :  "  Polla  metaxu  pelei  kulikos  kai  cheileos 
akrou."  1 

The  master  laughed  in  scorn,  and  raised  the 
brimming  cup,  but  before  he  touched  it  to  his 
lips  a  messenger  rushed  in,  saying  that  a  wild 
boar  was  destroying  the  grape-vines.  Ancae'us 
dashed  down  the  wine  and  ran  out  to  drive  away 
the  brute,  but  he   never  returned.     The   wild 

1  Appendix,  Note  35. 


120  JASON'S   QUEST. 

boar  killed  him,  and  the   slave's  prophecy  be- 
came a  proverb. 

Coasting  along  the  shore,  the  Ar'gonauts, 
after  many  adventures  which  we  cannot  pause 
to  chronicle,  came  to  a  small  island,  sacred  to 
A'res,  and  called  Are'tias,  where  they  disem- 
barked. While  lying  on  the  ground  they  sud- 
denly felt  a  sharp  stinging  through  all  their 
limbs,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  sky  grew 
dark,  as  if  from  a  coming  storm.  For,  in  fact, 
they  had  come  to  the  dwelling-place  of  the  fugi- 
tive Stympha'lian  birds,  whom  Her'acles  had 
frightened  from  their  native  vale,  as  you  shall 
some  time  read  hereafter.  These  horrid  crea- 
tures loved  to  feed  on  human  flesh  ;  their  talons 
were  of  iron,  and  their  steel-tipped  feathers  first 
taught  men  to  make  a  winged  arrow ;  and  they 
flew  above  the  sailors,  and  shook  out  their 
strange  plumage,  which  fell  upon  the  unpro- 
tected flesh  with  dangerous  force.  Perhaps  they 
knew  that  Her'acles,  their  conqueror,  was  ab- 
sent from  the  party  (for  he  had  never  returned 
after  the  loss  of  Hy'las),1  and  thought  the  others 

1  See  preface :  quotation  from  Diodorus  Siculus. 


EASTWARD   HO!  121 

would  not  know  his  secret  of  success.  But  Ja'- 
son  had  heard  the  story  from  the  victorious 
hero's  lips,  and  so  he  ordered  his  men  to  make 
a  great  noise  with  their  spears  upon  their  shields. 
They  had  no  sooner  done  this  than  their  winged 
foes — who  threatened  to  be  as  troublesome  as 
the  Har'pies,  and  far  more  fatal  —  remembered 
the  days  of  yore  in  Stympha'los,  and  flew  away 
in  fright,  while  their  falling  feathers,  sinking 
into  the  sea,  looked  at  a  distance  like  so  many 
flakes  of  snow. 


122 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


A   DEADLY    PLOT. 


And  next  the  wandering  heroes  trace 

To  Pha'sis'  flowing  stream  their  way, 
Mingling  with  Col'chis'  swarthy  race 
And  great  iEe'tes  in  the  fray. 

Pindar.  —  Translated  by 

Wheelwright.1 

HILE  the  Ar'gonauts 
still  tarried  at  the  island, 
two  men,  in  a  frail  boat, 
were  driven  by  a  wind 
upon  the  shore.  These 
wanderers  were  Ar'gus 
and  his  brother,  the 
sons  of  Phrix'us  and 
Chalci'ope,  whom  iEe'- 
tes,  their  grandfather, 
had  ordered  to  return  to  Greece  and  take  pos- 

In  reality, 

1  Appendix,  Note  36. 


session  of  their  father's  kingdom 


A  DEADLY  PLOT.  123 

the  wily  old  king  was  afraid  of  the  boys,  and  so 
tried  to  get  rid  of  them  by  this  excuse ;  for, 
how  did  he  suppose  two  inexperienced  youths 
would  find  their  way  across  the  Eux'ine,  and 
between  the  Dark  Blue  Dashers,  to  their  fath- 
er's land  beyond  the  Nameless  Sea  ? 

As  soon  as  the  Greeks  discovered  who  the 
strangers  were,  they  fell  upon  their  necks  with 
joy.  Ja'son  explained  his  purpose,  and  made  a 
proposal  that  Phrix'us'  sons  should  lead  them 
back  to  Col'chis,  after  which  they  would  all  go 
back  to  Greece  together.  But  Ar'gus  and  his 
brother  shook  their  heads ;  they  said  iEe'tes 
was  a  gruff  old  bear,  who  would  never  think  of 
giving  up  the  Golden  Fleece.  And  when  Ja'son 
suggested  that  it  didn't  concern  him  very  much 
what  iEe'tes  might  think,  his  cousins  told  him 
that  their  crafty  ancestor  had  nailed  the  Fleece 
to  a  tree  in  the  grove  of  A'res,  around  whose 
trunk  lay  coiled  a  sleepless  dragon,  terrible  to 
view. 

This  monster,  the  king  had  made  the  keeper 
of  his  treasure  ;  and  against  its  huge  and  scaly 
hide  the  hardest  sword  would  turn  its   edge, 


124  JASON'S   QUEST. 

while  a  blow  from  the  ever-vibrating  tail  would 
sever  a  dozen  men  in  twain  and  snap  a  tree- 
trunk  like  a  slender  twig. 

But  Ja'son  was  not  frightened  by  these  tales 
of  terror,  and  he  declared  that  he  would  fetch 
the  Fleece,  though  the  Three-headed  Dog  or  the 
Nine-headed  Hy'dra  stood  on  guard.  So,  find- 
ing him  unwavering  in  his  purpose,  the  sons  of 
Phrix'us  joined  his  crew  and  guided  him  to  Col'- 
chis.  Then  they  rowed  up  the  river  Pha'sis  till 
they  reached  the  city  iE'a,  when  Ja'son  pro- 
ceeded to  iEe'tes's  palace  to  interview  the  king. 

The  son  of  the  Sun  was  astonished  at  Ja'son 
and  his  errand.  Since  the  days  when  Chryso- 
maHus  flew  across  the  waters,  with  his  living 
burden,  no  Greek  had  entered  the  Oriental  city, 
and  iEe'tes  hoped  and  believed  that  he  should 
never  set  eyes  upon  another.  For  he  looked 
upon  his  golden  treasure  with  more  than  a 
miser's  greed,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  had  taken 
great  precautions  against  its  being  carried  off ; 
and,  still  further,  if  he  had  obtained  possession 
of  the  same  by  some  mysterious  crime,  as  was 
supposed,  the  dread  of  vengeance  may  have 
united  with  his  fear  of  loss. 


A  DEADLY   PLOT.  125 

So,  when  Ja'son  briefly  made  known  his  name, 
and  the  purpose  of  his  coming,  the  old  monarch 
was  a  little  frightened  and  very  much  vexed. 
He  felt  no  more  at  ease  when  he  learned  that 
the  new-comer  had  a  force  of  more  than  forty 
Grecian  heroes  at  his  back ;  but,  with  his  usual 
hypocrisy,  he  feigned  a  welcome  to  them  all, 
and  urgently  invited  them  to  a  great  feast  at  his 
palace  that  very  evening. 

Meanwhile,  Ja'son  returned  to  his  followers, 
and  iEe'tes  sat  down  to  devise  means  by  which 
he  might  preserve  the  Golden  Fleece  without 
danger  to  himself  or  subjects. 

When  Ar'gus  and  his  brother  learned  of  the 
projected  feast,  they  cautioned  all  the  Ar'go- 
nauts  against  going.  They  told  them  the  food 
would  be  poisoned,  or  the  wine  drugged,  and  they 
had  better  invent  some  excuse  for  refusing  the 
invitation.  But  Ja'son  had  already  given  his 
word,  and  he  felt  bound  to  keep  it ;  so  at  the 
appointed  hour  all  repaired  to  the  palace. 

Now,  while  the  Corchian  king  would  not  have 
hesitated  at  poison,  had  that  been  needed  to  ac- 
complish his  design,  he  had  devised  a  plan  that 


126  JASON'S   QUEST. 

he  believed  would  be  equally  effective,  would 
afford  his  subjects  a  day's  amusement,  and  would 
give  himself  a  cruel  pleasure. 

So,  after  he  had  dined  and  wined  his  heroic 
guests,  in  company  with  many  of  the  noblest  of 
his  realm,  JEe'tes  said  to  Ja'son :  — 

"  Noble  Greek,  for  the  instruction  of  myself 
and  friends,  I  pray  that  thou  wilt  tell  in  full  the 
causes  of  thy  journey,  the  wonders  thou  hast 
seen  upon  thy  way,  and  what  adventures  have 
befallen  thee." 

"  I  must  beg  to  be  excused,  your  Majesty," 
said  Ja'son ;  "  I  never  was  clever  at  telling  tales, 
and  I  will  resign  my  commission  to  friend  Or'- 
pheus." 

For  Ja'son  could  plan  cleverly,  if  he  couldn't 
talk.  He  knew  Or'pheus  would  sing  his  Cap- 
tain's praises  with  an  irresistible  charm,  and  he 
liked  to  be  nattered  as  well  as  the  men  of  mod- 
ern days. 

So  Or'pheus  tuned  his  lyre  and  sung  of  Chrys- 
omal'lus's  flight  and  Phrix'us'  troubled  ghost; 
and  of  the  wicked  Pe'lias,  Ja'son' s  uncle ;  and 
how  the  leader  of  the  Ar'gonauts  was  reared ; 


A  DEADLY  PLOT.  127 

jind  how  he  crossed  the  rushing  river,  bearing 
He'ra  on  his  back ;  and  then  he  told  the  art  of 
Pe'lias  by  which  the  valiant  Ja'son  was  induced 
to  fetch  the  Golden  Fleece  ;  and  how  the  First 
Ship  was  built  and  manned,  and  the  wonderful 
manner  in  which  it  was  launched ;  and  of  their 
stay  at  the  fair  isle  of  Lem'nos  ;  and  how  they 
fought  the  six-armed  giants ;  and  how  the 
friendly  Cyz'icus  was  slain ;  and  of  the  loss  of 
Hy'las,  for  whose  unavailing  search  his  master 
and  his  master's  friend  had  remained  behind ; 
and  how  the  boastful  Am'ycus  had  fallen  before 
Polydeu'ces'  arm ;  and  of  the  blind  king  Phi'- 
neus  and  his  prophecy. 

Then  the  Song  Wizard  struck  the  twanging 
strings  with  furious  might,  and  told  them  of  the 
Sympleg'ades  and  the  terrific  passage  between 
the  Dark  Blue  Rocks ;  and  the  music  became 
gay  and  joyous  as  he  sung  of  their  escape,  and 
sad  when  he  portrayed  their  comrades'  death. 

At  length  the  minstrel  ceased,  and  for  some 
moments  none  presumed  to  break  the  silence. 

Then  iEe'tes  spoke  :  — 

"  By  the  Golden  Fell  that  thou  hast  come  to 


128  JASON'S  QUEST. 

seek !  if  that  singer's  song  is  true  thou  dost  de- 
serve it !  Yet  I  must  require  some  proof  of  thy 
dexterity.  If,  from  the  time  my  father  mounts 
his  chariot  in  the  East,  to-morrow  morn,  until 
he  enters  his  golden  boat  on  the  far  Western 
Ocean,  thou  shalt  plough,  sow,  and  harvest  four 
acres  of  land,  allowing  me  to  furnish  team  and 
plough  and  land  and  seed,  thou  shalt  freely  take 
the  Fleece." 

Now  Ja'son  was  expecting  a  far  different  pro- 
posal, and  felt  disposed,  at  first,  to  resent  such 
humiliating  conditions ;  for  he  was  more  a 
tighter  than  a  farmer,  and  much  preferred  an 
encounter  with  a  dozen  Corchians,  or  a  duel 
with  iEe'tes's  dragon,  to  holding  the  plough- 
handles  half  a  day.  But  he  consoled  himself 
with  the  thought  that  he  was  still  young,  and 
there  would  be  hosts  of  opportunities  for  his 
prowess,  if  he  did  meet  with  a  disappointment 
just  when  he  had  counted  on  gaining  everlasting 
glory.  So  he  struck  hands  with  the  king,  ob- 
serving :  — 

"I'll  do  my  best,  only  I  don't  see  how  I  am 
to  reap  the  field  the  same  day  I  sow  it." 


A  DEADLY  PLOT.  129 

"  Oh,  the  seed  that  I  shall  furnish  has  a  rapid 
growth,"  iEe'tes  answered,  with  a  furtive  smile. 
"  If  there  is  no  harvest  ready  for  thy  sickle  thou 
shalt  be  excused  from  reaping." 

While  Or'pheus  was  singing  the  bravery  and 
prowess  of  the  Argonau'tic  Captain,  he  impressed 
all  hearts  —  but  each  in  a  special  manner.  JEe'- 
tes  felt  more  than  ever  that  Ja'son  must  be  de- 
stroyed, and  that,  too,  quickly  and  craftily  ;  the 
Greeks  were  inspired  with  confidence  in  their 
success ;  and  one  fluttering  heart  beat  with  a 
stranger  feeling  still.  This  heart  dwelt  within 
the  breast  of  Mede'a,  the  witch-daughter  of  King 
^Ee'tes. 

Now  do  not  imagine  that  she  resembled  those 
toothless  crones  who  are  reported  to  wander 
wilfully,  on  broomstick  steeds,  throughout  the 
regions  of  the  night ;  for  Mede'a  was  young  and 
beautiful. 

Moreover,  she  was  the  wisest  woman  in  the 
world,  save  one,  and  "  could  call  spirits  from  the 
vasty  deep,"  and  pierce  the  veil  that  overhangs 
the  future,  and  make  mystic  mixtures  of  strange 


130  JASON'S   QUEST. 

herbs  possessing  unheard-of  properties.  Hither- 
to she  had  been  sought  in  vain  by  many 
nobles  of  her  father's  court.  She  cared  nothing 
for  them,  and  would  far  rather  wander  in  the 
woods,  and  cull  the  herbs  by  whose  aid  she 
wrought  her  incantations.  But  when  first  she 
looked  upon  the  handsome  Greek  she  was 
charmed  at  his  appearance,  and,  by  the  time  the 
Song  Wizard  had  ended,  she  had  resolved  to  be- 
witch Ja'son,  if  possible ;  for,  said  she  to  her- 
self:— 

"  Whom  would  not  Ja'son's  valor,  youth,  and  blood 
Invite  ?  or  could  these  merits  be  withstood, 
At  least  his  charming  person  must  encline 
The  hardest  heart  —  I'm  sure  'tis  so  with  mine; 
Yet,  if  I  help  him  not,  the  flaming  breath 
Of  bulls,  and  earth-born  foes,  must  be  his  death. 
Or,  should  he  through  these  dangers  force  his  way, 
At  last  he  must  be  made  the  dragon's  prey. 
If  no  remorse  for  such  distress  I  feel, 
I  am  a  tigress,  and  my  breast  is  steel. 
Why  do  I  scruple  then  to  see  him  slain, 
And  with  the  tragic  scene  my  eyes  profane  ? 
The  gods  forbid  —  but  prayers  are  idle  breath 
When  action  only  can  prevent  his  death. 
Mede'a,  haste,  from  danger  set  him  free, 
Ja'son  shall  thy  eternal  debtor  be ; 
And  thou,  his  Queen,  with  sovereign  state  enstalled, 
By  Grecian  dames  the  Kind  Preserver  called."  * 
1  Appendix,  Note  37. 


A  DEADLY  PLOT.  131 

So,  when  the  Ar'gonauts  departed,  Mede'a 
slipped  away  from  her  father's  presence  unob- 
served, and  contrived  to  meet  our  hero  before 
he  reached  his  ship.  She  told  him  that  the 
labor  he  was  to  attempt  the  next  day  would 
bring  him  to  certain  death,  and  entreated  him 
to  flee. 

Ja'son  was  pleased  to  know  that  such  a  beauti- 
ful being  had  an  interest  in  him,  and  asked 
what  danger  could  ensue  from  a  little  agricul- 
tural amusement,  such  as  had  been  proposed. 

Then  Mede'a  told  him  of  the  land  the  wily 
king  would  furnish  —  no  other  than  the  Field 
of  A' res  never  tilled  before  ;  the  plough,  an  im- 
plement of  ponderous  weight,  with  share  of 
adamant  and  beam  of  iron ;  the  team,  two  un- 
tamed bulls,  curiously  wrought  in  brass,  breath- 
ing forth  smoke  and  flame  and  consuming 
everything  which  they  approached.  And  if  he 
succeeded  in  ploughing  the  field,  the  seed  that  he 
must  sow  was  no  less  than  the  dragon's  teeth 
(Athe'na's  gift,  of  which  you  have  heard),  every 
one  of  which  would  forthwith  spring  up  a  full- 
armed  man,  who  would  attack  him  with  a  two- 
edged  sword. 


132  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Ja'son  rubbed  his  hands  in  positive  delight ; 
this  was  not  to  be  so  tame  an  affair  after  all. 
So  he  thanked  the  maiden  warmly,  saying  that 
she  had  brought  him  tidings  that  would  insure 
a  good  night's  rest. 

Finding  him  set  in  his  purpose,  Mede'a  said, 
"  There  is  an  ice-flower  growing  on  the  cliffs  of 
rugged  Cau'casus,  and  nourished  by  Prome'- 
theus's  blood.  If  I  can  bring  it  here  before  to- 
morrow's light,  I  may  compound  an  ointment 
that  shall  cause  you  to  stand  uninjured  before 
fire  or  steel.  But  if  I  help  you  gain  the  Golden 
Fleece  what  will  become  of  me  ?  My  father 
will  destroy  me  in  his  wrath." 

As  Ja'son  looked  upon  the  winsome  maiden, 
it  did  not  take  him  long  to  suggest  a  plan  — 
the  very  one  Mede'a  longed  to  hear. 

"  Go  back  with  us  to  Greece,  and  be  my 
bride." 

How  she  accepted  we  will  not  attempt  to  say, 
but  they  were  betrothed  ;  and  the  little  witch 
did  not  faint,  either,  but  soon  after  mounted  a 
chariot,  drawn  by  winged  serpents,  and  set  out 
to  see  if  she  might  pluck  the  magical  ice-flower, 
ere  it  should  be  too  late. 


SEED-TIME   AND  HARVEST. 


133 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


SEED-TIME    AND    HARVEST. 


This  plant,  which  rough  Cauca'sian  mountains  bore, 

Sprung  from  the  venom  of  Prorne'theus'  gore 

(While  on  the  wretch  the  savage  eagle  stormed). 

Its  color  like  Cory'cian  crocus  formed: 

On  two  tall  stems  upsprings  the  flowery  shoot, 

A  cubit  high;  like  red  raw  flesh  its  root. 

Apollonius  Rhodius.  —  Translated  by  Fawkes.1 

ROME'THEUS  was  a  re- 
mote ancestor  of  Ja'son. 
For  a  peculiar  crime  Zeus 
had  sentenced  him  to  lie 
chained  to  a  crag  on  Mt. 
Cau'casus  for  thirty  thou- 
sand years,  while  a  vul- 
ture or  an  eagle  should 
peck  and  tear  at  his  liver 
every  day ;  but  every 
night  the  organ  grew 
afresh  and  the  open  wound  was  healed.     How 

1  Appendix,  Note  38. 


134  JASON'S   QUEST, 

all  this  came  about  I  cannot  stop  to  tell  you 
now,  but  some  time  you  will  know.1 

Where  the  blood  flowed  down  continually 
from  Prome'theus's  unhealed  wound,  there  grew 
a  strange,  uncanny  plant,  that,  springing  forth 
to  light  amid  the  frost  and  snow  of  those 
eternal  hills,  possessed  strange  virtues,  and  was 
called  the  ice-flower. 

For  this  blood-nurtured  blossom  now  the  sor- 
ceress sought,  and  guided,  with  her  voice,  the 
flying  serpents  through  the  air-  Shivering  with 
cold,  she  sprang  at  last  upon  the  looked-for 
cliff  and  tore  the  plant  up  by  the  roots.  Shud- 
dering at  the  sight  of  the  chained  Ti'tan,  to 
whom  she  yet  addressed  a  kindly  word,  Mede'a 
entered  the  fiery  chariot  again  and  sped  away 
to  iE'a,  where  she  dismissed  her  carriage,  with 
its  snaky  steeds,  to  the  clouds,  whence  she  in- 
voked them. 

The  purple  fingers  of  the  dawn  had  already 
begun  to  tear  away  the  gloomy  veil  of  night, 
when  the  maiden  sought  ao;ain  the  Gre'cian 
hero,  bearing  in  her  hand  a  golden  box  filled 

1  Appendix,  Note  39. 


SEED-TIME  AND   HARVEST. 


135 


with  an  ointment,  redolent  with  strange  per- 
fumes. She  told  Ja'son  to  apply  this  with  care 
to  his  body,  armor,  spear,  sword,  and  shield, 
and   it  would   protect  whatsoever   it   touched, 


fiEDEA    IN   HE.RI   SERPENT-QHARroT 


until   the  setting   sun,  from  injury  by  fire   or 
steel.     She  also  whispered  something  in  his  ear 
that  may  have  been  further  directions  how  to 
act  —  perhaps. 
But  we  shall  see. 


136  JASON'S   QUEST. 

The  news  of  the  bargain  between  iEe'tes  and 
Ja'son  had  spread  like  wildfire  over  Col'chis,  and, 
long  before  the  slaves  of  He'lios  had  oiled  the 
axles  of  his  shining  car,  ready  for  his  daily  drive, 
the  countrymen  had  begun  to  pour  into  the  city 
and  surround  the  Field  of  A'res.  iEe'tes,  too,  rose 
early  in  the  desire  to  outwit  the  daring  Greek ; 
and  when  Ja'son  and  his  men  arrived  they  found 
the  old  monarch  seated,  with  Medea,  under  a 
sort  of  canopy,  which  stood  upon  an  eminence 
overlooking  the  field  in  question. 

In  one  corner  stood  what  resembled  a  modern 
engine-house,  judging  by  the  volumes  of  smoke 
and  steam  that  issued  from  it ;  but,  in  reality, 
it  was  only  the  cage  containing  the  fire-breath- 
ing bulls  which  Ja'son  must  yoke  and  fasten  to 
the  plough. 

These  monsters  were  presented  to  iEe'tes  by 
Hephses'tos,  their  creator  ;  for  the  cunning  art- 
isan did  not  confine  his  skill  to  ordinary  bric-a- 
brac,  but  made  Ta'lus,  the  man  of  brass,  to  run 
around  the  island  Crete,  where  we  shall  meet 
him  by  and  by  —  the  savage  gold  and  silver 
dogs  for  Alcin'ous,  king  of  the  Phsea'cians,  and 


SEED-TIME  AND   HARVEST.  137 

golden  maidens,  endowed  with  speech,  who 
waited  on  himself  —  besides  the  bulls  to  which 
Ja'son  is  soon  to  be  introduced. 

These  last-named  animals  had  throats  and 
hoofs  and  horns  and  hides  of  brass,  while  their 
stomachs  were  neither  more  nor  less  than  two 
great  iron  furnaces,  in  which  there  ever  burned 
an  inextinguishable  fire. 

So  you  see  they  were  pretty  metalsome  brutes, 
and  no  one  yet  had  cared  enough  for  distinction 
to  endeavor  to  manage  them. 

As  Ja'son  passed  the  king,  he  lifted  his  helmet 
in  salute,  and  saw  Mede'a  sitting  by  her  father's 
side,  looking  as  fresh  and  innocent  as  though 
she  had  gone  to  bed  at  dark  and  slept  till  day- 
break. She  -returned  his  grateful  glance  with 
an  indifferent  air,  and  bowed  so  formally  at  his 
salutation  that  no  one  guessed  the  truth. 

When  the  gilded  car  of  day  first  showed  itself 
above  the  eastern  hills,  iEe'tes  signalled  to  the 
keepers  to  open  the  cage,  and  the  terrible  au- 
tomata rushed  forth.  As  they  moved  forward, 
with  lowered  heads,  the  grass  and  herbage  dis- 
appeared before  them  with  a   crackling  whish  ! 


138  JASON'S    QUEST. 

and  in  their  wake  was  seen  a  scorched  and 
smoking  trail.  With  a  subdued  bellowing,  that 
sounded  like  the  roar  of  angry  breakers  in  the 
distance,  they  tended  straight  toward  the  Greek, 
who  had  cast  aside  everything  that  would  im- 
pede his  action,  and  was  awaiting  their  approach. 
As  they  came  near,  he  pronounced  a  few  words 
that  had  a  wonderful  effect.  The  creatures 
stopped  so  suddenly  that  their  brazen  hoofs  were 
buried  in  the  sod,  while  they  held  up  their 
heads,  and  snuffed  and  puffed  in  terror.  For 
the  words  were  some  which  the  witch-woman 
had  whispered  in  his  ear. 

Regardless  of  the  fiery  breath  that  poured 
from  the  metallic  nostrils  of  the  brutes,  Ja'son 
advanced  and  seized  each  bull  by  the  horns.  A 
shout  of  admiration  rent  the  air,  sent  up  by 
Col'chians  and  Greeks  alike,  and  even  iEe'tes 
was  struck  with  wonder  at  this  act  of  the  dar- 
ing stranger. 

Still  muttering  cabalistic  words,  Ja'son  patted 
the  necks  of  the  strange  creatures,  until  all 
signs  of  fear  or  rage  had  disappeared,  then 
placed  himself  between  them  and  led  them  to 
the  yoke. 


SEED-TIME   AND   HARVEST.  139 

This  he  slipped  adroitly  upon  their  horns, 
and,  in  a  twinkling,  they  were  fastened  to  the 
plough. 

Then  began  such  a  "  breaking  up  "  as  never 
happened  before  or  since,  except  when  an  earth- 
quake has  broken  loose. 

The  Field  of  Mars,  as  we  have  already  learned, 
was  "  new  ground,"  and  contained  a  plentiful 
supply  of  rocks  and  stumps  ;  and  when  the  ada- 
mantine share  struck  one  of  these,  something 
gave  way  ;  and,  as  the  bulls  were  irresistible,  and 
the  plough  and  its  attachments  were  indestructi- 
ble, and  Ja'son  was,  for  the  time,  invulnerable, 
the  result  was  inevitable  —  the  air  was  filled 
with  flying  fragments  of  wood  and  stone,  that 
well-nigh  hid  the  teamster  and  his  fiery  team 
from  view. 

Meantime  He'lios  mounted  high  in  the  heav- 
ens, and  poured  down  his  hottest  beams  ;  for 
he  felt  a  fatherly  anxiety  in  iEe'tes's  behalf,  and 
thought  he  would  help  matters  by  a  little  stroke 
of  his  own. 

But  the  animated  engines  and  the  tireless  en- 
gineer never  paused  in  their  work  until  high 


140  JASON'S  QUEST. 

twelve,  when  Ja'son  threw  the  plough  out  of  the 
last  furrow  that  he  had  to  turn,  and  drove  the 
puffing  but  unwearied  animals  back  to  the  cage. 

Then  he  girded  on  his  armor  and  approached 
iEe'tes  once  again.  Standing  before  the  king, 
he  saluted  him  and  said  :  — 

"  The  field  is  ready,  sir." 

iEe'tes  clapped  his  hands,  and  two  slaves  ap- 
peared. 

"  Bring  forth  the  seed,"  he  shouted  through 
his  clinched  teeth. 

They  retired  an  instant,  then  returned,  bear- 
ing an  immense  goat-skin  bag,  stuffed  almost  to 
bursting  with  the  teeth  of  the  monstrous  Cad'- 
mian  dragon,  though  there  were  only  half  of  the 
original  number. 

Ja'son  buckled  on  his  sword,  caught  up  the 
goat-skin,  with  apparent  ease,  in  one  hand,  and 
carrying  his  shield  and  spear  in  the  other,  strode 
to  the  centre  of  the  newly-ploughed  field.  There 
he  set  down  his  burden  for  an  instant,  to  loose 
the  thong  that  closed  the  mouth  of  the  sack, 
and  to  glance  at  the  chariot  of  the  Sun,  who, 
having  given  up  all  hopes  of  injuring  Ja'son  by 


-""■ft-*   , 

^m   /w   ^  35, 

'  [    i,1  /B1  /       M^4    'lip 'I'll 


5C  ■ 


SEED-TIME   AND   HARVEST.  141 

a  direct  attack,  was  now  hurrying  down  the 
western  slopes  of  heaven,  with  the  greatest  speed 
possible  under  the  circumstances. 

The  echoes  from  the  shouts  of  the  applauding 
multitude  had  long  since  died  away,  and  all 
around  was  breathless  silence,  as  the  sower 
made  ready  to  scatter  broadcast  the  terrible 
seed.    . 

Dropping  his  spear  and  shield  upon  the 
ground,  and  opening  the  sack  to  its  fullest  ex- 
tent, Ja'son  plunged  both  hands  therein,  and 
then,  with  a  mighty  throw,  sent  two  handfuls 
of  teeth  flying  on  either  side,  to  the  outermost 
boundaries  of  the  field. 

At  once  appeared  a  strange  and  thrilling 
scene.1  No  sooner  did  a  tooth  fall  to  earth  than 
up  it  sprung  again,  like  a  jumping-jack,  a  full- 
armed,  savage  soldier,  who  stared  a  moment, 
rubbed  his  eyes,  then,  with  a  frightful  yell, 
started  for  Ja'son.  But  he  could  scarcely  ad- 
vance ten  steps  before  another  fellow  would  be 
born,  just  in  front  of  him,  so  unexpectedly  that 
the  elder  would  go  sprawling  over  his  younger 

1  Appendix,  Note  40. 


142  JASON'S  QUEST. 

brother's  head,  and  pick  himself  up  two  or  three 
generations  later  on.  This  rapid  increase  of  the 
birth-rate  was  a  great  impediment  to  discipline, 
and  the  wisdom  of  Ja'son  was  manifest  in  throw- 
ing the  seed  to  the  outer  edges  first,  and  gradu- 
ally narrowing  the  circle  ;  as  thus  the  oncoming 
foe  were  kept  in  check  by  their  own  re-enforce- 
ments. 

But  the  fast  increasing  numbers  were  closing 
in  upon  the  Greek ;  and  though  steel  could  not 
harm  him,  it  was  not  unlikely  that,  in  their 
frenzy,  the  mad  mob  might  tear  him  limb  from 
limb. 

At  length  the  last  tooth  was  drawn  from  the 
goat-skin  and  flung,  as  had  been  all  the  recent 
handfuls,  far  beyond  the  heads  of  the  ten  thou- 
sand howling;  warriors. 

The  surging  masses  were  now  within  twenty 
yards  of  the  adventurous  Ar'gonaut ;  iEe'tes's 
eyes  flashed  with  a  baneful  light ;  Mede'a  paled 
and  trembled,  in  spite  of  all  her  efforts ;  the 
Greeks  stood  horror-struck  at  sight  of  the  fast- 
closing  columns ;  and  even  the  Col'chians  held 
their  breath  as  they  beheld  the  fearful  odds. 


SEED-TIME   AND   HARVEST.  143 

Suddenly  Ja'son,  stooping,  caught  up  a  large 
stone,  and  flung  it  right  in  the  faces  of  his  ad- 
vancing foe. 

He  then  seized  his  spear  and  shield  and 
awaited  the  attack. 


144 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


SERENADING    THE    DRAGON. 


Wonders  ensue :  among  his  gazing  foes 
The  massy  fragment  of  a  rock  he  throws; 
This  charm  in  civil  war  engaged  them  all; 
By  mutual  wounds  those  earth-born  brothers  fall. 
Ovid.  —  Translated  by  Tate.1 

CURIOUS  result  followed  the  fling- 
ino;  of  that  stone.  The  trick  was 
the  same  which  Cad'mus  once  had 
tried,  and  Mecle'a  had  heard  of  it. 
So  she  had  told  Ja'son  to  stand  his 
ground,  and  when  he  wanted  to 
create  a  diversion,  to  fling  a  great 
stone  amid  the  earth-born  multitude. 
"Diversion  !  "  Well,  so  it  was  for  Ja'son — ■ 
but  it  meant  death  to  his  foes.  For  they  lost 
their  wits  at  once,  and  began  to  hew  and  stab 
each  other,  until  the  valiant  Greek  fairly  shook 
in  his  sandals  for  laughter. 

1  Appendix,  Note  4L 


SERENADING  THE   DRAGON.  145 

Now  and  then  one  of  the  crowd  would  be  el- 
bowed toward  the  place  where  Ja'son  was  stand- 
ing, and  then  off  would  go  his  head  with  a  blow 
from  that  harvester's  sword-sickle ;  but,  for  the 
most  part,  our  hero  was  content,  having  set  the 
ball  a-rolling,  to  see  the  strange  harvest  reap 
itself. 

Finally,  he  began  to  pick  his  way  across  the 
heaps  of  slain  toward  iEe'tes,  leaving  the  field 
to  the  somewhat  destructive  principle  of  the 
"survival  of  the  fittest." 

Though  he  often  found  his  way  impeded  by 
stragglers,  whom  he  despatched  with  sword  or 
spear  as  usual,  he  noticed  that  none  ever  at- 
tacked him,  but  that  he  walked  among  them  as 
one  invisible.  In  fact,  that  stone  had  done  the 
business,  and  the  upstarts  could  see  no  one  but 
themselves.  So  they  fought  on  ;  and  when  Ja'- 
son at  last  stood  before  iEe'tes  and  his  trem- 
bling daughter,  who  feared  for  her  lover  in  spite 
of  his  charmed  life,  the  magic  multitude  lay 
self-slain  upon  the  furrowed  field. 

Away  in  the  distant  West  was  He'lios's  flam- 
ing car,  approaching  the  horizon  by  degrees,  but 


146  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Ja'son's  work  was  over.  He  had  won  the  Gol- 
den Fleece. 

To  describe  iEe'tes's  feelings  would  be  impos- 
sible. He  could  no  longer  boast  about  his  bra- 
zen bulls,  for  they  had  been  subjected  to  the 
yoke.  But  he  concealed  his  anger  and  vexation, 
and  said  in  a  bluff  but  hearty  tone  to  Ja'son  :  — 

"  Surely,  the  Fleece  is  thine,  but  I  cannot  con- 
sent that  thou  shouldst  now  depart,  for  I  have 
many  messages  concerning  thy  valor  that  I 
would  send  to  Greece,  and  sad  farewells  to  speak 
again  to  Ar'gus  and  his  brother,  and  countless 
presents  that  I  must  collect  to  heap  on  the  only 
man  who,  I  am  sure,  could  have  fulfilled  my 
hard  conditions  and  obtained  the  prize." 

And  with  that  he  smiled  graciously  upon  Ja'- 
son, and  looked  so  like  Mede'a  that  the  foolish 
fellow  was  persuaded  to  wait. 

The  Ar'gonauts  then  went  back  to  their  ship, 
and  iEe'tes  and  his  companions  retired  to  the 
palace. 

On  board  the  Ar'go  there  was  great  rejoicing 
that  night ;  and  the  heroes  drank  so  many  toasts 
to  their  captain  that  before  long  there  were  only 


SERENADING  THE  DRAGON.  147 

two  sober  men  in  the  party  —  Ja'son,  whom 
modesty  kept  from  drinking  his  own  health,  and 
Or'pheus,  who  was  a  strict  teetotaller,  and,  in- 
deed, finally  lost  his  life  for  refusing  to  associ- 
ate with  the  devotees  of  Bacchus.1 

At  length  the  boisterous  tones  grew  thick 
and  indistinct,  as  the  enemy  which  the  Ar- 
gonauts put  into  their  mouths  stole  away  their 
brains,  and,  one  by  one,  the  revellers  rolled  be- 
neath the  benches  and  slept  in  a  drunken  stupor. 

Ja'son  stood  looking  over  the  rail  into  the 
waters  of  the  rippling  Pha'sis,  above  which  the 
full  moon  hung  in  midnight  splendor,  and 
thought  over  the  glorious  achievements  of  the 
day,  and  dreamed  of  home.  Or'pheus  tossed 
from  side  to  side  of  his  uneasy  couch,  and  could 
not  sleep,  because  his  ears  yet  ached  with  the 
discordant  sounds  of  his  companions'  orgies. 

A  white  robed  figure  glided  from  iEe'tes's 
palace  and  stole  towards  the  Ar'go.  It  softly 
stepped  upon  the  deck,  crept  up  behind  Ja'son, 
and  laid  a  shapely  hand  upon  his  arm. 

The  Greek  turned  with  surprise  and  saw 
Mede'a. 

1  Appendix,  Note  42. 


148  JASON'S   QUEST. 

He  was  about  to  clasp  her  in  his  arms  and 
thank  her  for  the  aid  which  she  had  given  him, 
but  she  held  up  a  warning  finger. 

"  Hist !  "  she  said,  "  there  is  no  time  to  lose  ! 
Call  up  your  men  and  hasten  back  to  Greece ! 
We  have  come  to  join  you." 

Then  first  Ja'son  noticed  that  the  witch-girl 
carried  a  child  in  her  arms  —  her  brother  Absyr'- 
tus,  whom  she  tenderly  loved,  and  whom  she  had 
stolen  from  his  bed  to  carry  with  her  to  her 
foreign  home. 

But  Ja'son  laughed  at  the  idea,  and  said  he 
thought  he'd  take  the  Fleece  first,  since  that  was 
what  he  had  been  laboring  for. 

Accordingly.  Mede'a  told  him  of  her  father's 
wrath,  and  how  he  had  laid  a  plan,  when  the 
Greeks  went  up  to  see  their  leader  take  his  prize, 
to  set  the  Ar'go  on  fire  ;  moreover,  that  Ja'son 
would  be  obliged  himself  to  take  the  Fleece  from 
the  tree  on  which  it  hung,  despite  the  guardian 
dragon  which  lay  coiled  around  it ;  finally, 
that  the  magic  ointment  which  had  served  his 
purpose  the  day  before,  was  — 

1.  All  gone ;  and  she  had  used  the  only  ice- 


SERENADING  THE   DRAGON.  149 

flower  in  the  world,  and  it  would  be  a  year  be- 
fore another  would  grow. 

2.  If  any  were  left,  there  would  be  no  virtue 
in  it  the  second  day. 

3.  Though  it  had  protected  him  from  fire  and 
steel,  it  could  not,  even  when  fresh,  resist  the 
lashings  of  the  beast's  terrific  tail. 

Thus  by  iEe'tes's  plan,  Ja'son  would  be  de- 
stroyed after  all,  the  Ar'go  burned,  and  then,  at 
a  given  signal,  the  Cordiian  warriors  would  fall 
upon  and  massacre  the  Greeks. 

Mede'a  had  drawn  the  whole  story  from  her 
unsuspecting  father;  and,  when  all  were  asleep 
in  the  palace,  she  had  taken  her  child-brother 
in  her  arms  and  stolen  away  to  reveal  the  plot 
and  urge  her  lover  to  immediate  flight. 

But  Ja'son  was  stubborn.  He  said  he  was 
willing  to  leave  then  and  there,  only  he  must 
take  that  Fleece  or  perish  in  the  attempt. 

In  vain  Mede'a  argued.  She  told  him  the 
dragon  was  invulnerable  and  terrible,  and  that 
only  her  father  and  herself  could  soothe  its  rage  ; 
moreover,  she  could  not  impart  the  spell  to  Ja'- 
son,  as  she  had  done  the  day  before  that  he 


150  JASON'S   QUEST. 

might  tame  the  bulls,  for  the  charm  that  would 
repress  the  dragon's  wrath  and  close  its  sleepless 
eyes  involved  a  chain  of  mysteries  that  required 
many  years  to  learn. 

Ja'son  then  proposed  that  if  she  could  keep 
the  creature  quiet,  they  should  go  up  together 
at  once,  and,  while  she  charmed  the  monster, 
that  he  should  snatch  the  Golden  Prize. 

There  was  only  one  objection  to  this.  When- 
ever any  one  approached  the  tree,  were  it  the 
king  himself,  the  dragon  roared  so  hideously 
that  he  shook  the  earth,  and  such  a  sound  break- 
ing on  the  stillness  of  the  night  would  rouse  the 
slumbering  Col'chians  to  immediate  attack. 

"  I'll  help  you  !  Follow  me." 

Both  started. 

It  was  Or'pheus  who  spoke  ;  and  he  now  stood 
beside  them,  holding  his  harp  and  pointing  to 
the  grove  of  A'res,  where  the  Fleece  was  hang- 
ing. As  we  have  said,  he  could  not  sleep,  and 
so  had  overheard  the  dialogue  between  the  war- 
rior  and  the  Col'chian  maid. 

When  Ja'son' s  eyes  fell  on  the  harp  they 
lighted  up,  and  he  exclaimed :  — 


SERENADING  THE   DRAGON.  151 

"  The  very  thing,  friend  Or'pheus  ;  why  had 
I  not  thought  of  this  before  ? " 

Leaving  Absyr'tus  to  his  innocent  sleep  in  a 
safe  corner  of  the  ship,  the  three  wended  their 
silent  way  toward  the  grove. 

Before  they  reached  the  outskirts,  Or'pheus 
began  to  play.  At  first  the  music  could  not 
have  been  told  from  the  breezes  that  went  whis- 
pering through  the  boughs  of  beech  and  oak 
around  the  War-god's  temple.  But,  as  they 
stole  softly  onward  toward  the  tree  on  which 
their  hopes  were  hung,  the  strains  grew  more 
distinct,  until  their  captivating  power  pierced 
even  the  dull  senses  of  the  dreaded  dragon. 

He  did  not  open  his  eyes  wider,  for  he 
couldn't  —  they  were  always  staring  at  their 
full  capacity  ;  but  he  lifted  his  head,  and  turned 
first  one  ear  and  then  the  other  toward  the  place 
whence  came  the  magic  music,  and  fairly  forgot 
to.  roar. 

Finally  the  three  approached  within  a  dozen 
yards  of  the  beast,  and,  while  Or'pheus  contin- 
ued to  play,  suiting  the  cadences  to  the  fancy  of 
his  listener,   which  was  easily   determined  by 


152  JASON'S   QUEST. 

the  mechanical  and  rhythmic  beating  of  the 
monster's  scaly  tail.  Mede'a  took  a  phial  from 
her  bosom,  filled  with  some  mysterious  fluid, 
broke  a  branch  from  a  neighboring  tree,  and, 
muttering  spells  and  incantations,  moved  boldly 
forward. 

The  dragon  darted  forth  his  tongue  at  her 
approach,  but  made  no  other  motion.  Then 
she  poured  the  contents  of  the  phial  upon  the 
branch  and  waved  the  latter  above  the  creature's 
head ;  and,  while  Or'pheus  played  a  lullaby, 
Mede'a  sang :  — 

"  Hear,  mighty  Sleep!  the  Col'chian  virgin's  call 
Where'er  thou  lingerest  on  this  earthly  ball. 
I  bid  thee  haste  from  all  beneath  the  pole, 
And  rush  collected  on  the  serpent's  soul! 

Oft  have  I  poured  thy  horn's  oblivious  dew 

To  still  the  rapid  lightning  as  it  flew; 

The  surging  seas;  the  turbid  clouds  on  high; 

The  sparkling  stars,  and  meteors  of  the  sky. 

I  call  thee  now  in  all  thy  mightiest  power: 

Come  like  thy  brother  Death,  in  this  momentous  hour. 

Guard  of  the  Golden  Fleece !  let  Sleep  allay 
Thy  restless  watching:  turn  thine  eyes  away! 


Myself  will  guard  the  grove,  and  watch  the  while; 
Then  let  repose  thy  long,  long  toils  beguile." 


SERENADING  THE  DRAGON.  153 

He  not  relaxed  his  weary  folds;  but  feared 
The  rest  permitted,  and  by  toil  endeared : 
Yet  shuddering  felt  the  cloud  of  slumber  creep, 
And  from  the  branches  shook  the  balm  of  sleep. 

The  Col'chian  maid  her  foaming  venoms  threw, 
And  waved  the  bough,  immersed  in  Lethe's  dew: 
With  chanted  rhyme  she  lulls  his  drooping  eyes, 
With  hand  and  tongue  the  Styg'ian  charm  she  plies, 
And  still  persists,  till1  .... 

even  dragon-nature  could  not  longer  struggle 
against  such  sweet,  somniferous  spells ;  for 
those  tired  eyelids,  that  had  never  drooped  be- 
fore, closed  tightly  and  the  creature  slept. 

"  Quick,  now,  my  love  !  "  exclaimed  Mede'a, 
and  Ja'son  breathlessly  stepped  over  the  recum- 
bent form  of  the  sleeping  sentinel  and  touched 
the  Golden  Object  of  his  golden  dreams. 

1  Appendix,  Note  43. 


154 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

BLACK   AKT    MAKES    A    BLACK    HEART. 

And  at  the  twilight  hour  the  sacred  oak 
In  Ar'go's  keel  Fate's  will  predestined  spoke:  — 
"  Far  must  ye  rove  o'er  the  vexed  seas,  nor  rest 
Till  reached,  long  sought,  the  M 'a  of  the  West 
Where  Cir'ce  dwells;  there  shall  ye  lay  aside 
Tour  guilt's  sore  burden,  and  be  purified." 

Earl  of  Crawford.  —  Argo.,  B.  IX.  309. 


INTOXICATING  though 
Mede'a's  spell  had  been, 
it  possessed  but  a  fleeting 
virtue ;  and,  though  Ja'- 
son  tore  away  the  Fleece 
with  feverish  fingers,  and 
all  sped  backward  to  the 
ship  as  fast  as  possible, 
they  had  not  reached  it 
when  a  terrific  roaring  fell 
upon  their  ears. 
The  watch-dragon  had  awakened  from  his 
slumber,   and   discovered   that   his    charge  was 


BLACK  ART  MAKES  A  BLACK  HEART.       155 

gone.  Instantly  the  palace  was  astir.  iEe'tes 
sprang  up  at  the  sound,  which  he  knew  full  well, 
for  he  feared  lest  Ja'son  were  trying  to  steal  a 
march  on  him.  He  rushed  into  Mede'a's  cham- 
ber, but  she  was  gone.  Nay,  more,  Absyr'tus, 
the  child  of  his  old  age,  was  missing  too  ! *  and, 
like  a  flash,  there  dawned  upon  his  mind  a  pre- 
monition of  the  truth.  He,  therefore,  sum- 
moned all  his  warriors  and  ordered  them  to 
run,  some  toward  the  grove  of  A'res,  some 
whither  the  Ar'go  lay.  He,  himself,  hurried  to 
the  latter  place  —  not  that  he  thought  of  find- 
ing Ja'son  there,  but  that  he  might  arrange  the 
swift  destruction  of  the  hated  ship. 

But  imagine  his  chagrin  on  seeing  that  the 
Ar'go  had  already  loosed  her  moorings  and  was 
gliding  down  the  river  toward  the  sea.  Nor 
was  this  all.  Upon  the  stern  stood  Ja'son,  with 
one  arm  about  Mede'a's  waist,  while  on  the 
other  hung  —  could  he  believe  his  eyes?  —  the 
Golden  Fleece ! 

The  alarm  quickly  spread,  and  iEe'tes  was 
soon  seated  in  his  fastest  boat,  with  a  hundred 

1  Appendix,  Note  44. 


156  JASON'S   QUEST. 

others  following  in  its  wake,  while  strong  arms 
plied  the  oars  at  his  command,  in  desperate  at- 
tempts to  overtake  the  escaping  Ar'gonauts. 
And,  as  you  may  be  surprised  to  learn,  iEe'tes 
and  his  followers  really  gained  upon  the  Ar'go ; 
for  the  Greeks  had  taken  so  much  wine  the  night 
before  that  several  still  lay  beneath  the  benches, 
while  those  who,  aroused  by  Ja'son's  cries  and 
sobered  by  their  fears,  endeavored  to  urge  the 
vessel  forward,  were  trembling  and  unfit  for  a 
race. 

As  Mede'a  saw  her  father's  boat  drawing 
nearer  with  every  stroke,  a  fearful  purpose  en- 
tered her  soul.  She  knew  if  they  were  over- 
taken they  would  find  no  mercy  from  the  furious 
king,  and  she  had  no  magic  arts  at  swift  com- 
mand by  which  to  repulse  her  own  and  Ja'son's 
enemies.  A  tumult  of  mad  emotions  raged 
within  her,  and  the  worst  prevailed.  Snatching 
her  lover's  sword,  she  ran  to  the  spot  where  in- 
nocent Absyr'tus  slept  —  the  little  brother  whom 
she  had  taken  in  love,  but  whom  a  sudden  im- 
pulse decided  her  to  sacrifice  in  selfishness  — 
smote  him  with  a  cruel  blow,  and  flung  him 
overboard  into  the  sea. 


BLACK  ART  MAKES  A  BLACK  HEART.       157 

Ja'son  and  his  companions  shuddered  at  the 
sight ;  but,  as  they  knew  her  magic  powers, 
supposed  they  looked  upon  a  seeming  horror 
only,  from  which  some  good  result  would 
spring. 

But,  alas !  This  was  a  far  too  sad  reality ; 
for  Mede'a's  only  object  was  to  make  her  father 
halt  from  grief,  to  recover  his  child.  In  this 
she  was  successful;  and  the  stricken  monarch 
for  a  while  forgot  his  greed  of  gold,  forgot  his 
malice  toward  Ja'son  and  his  crew,  forgot  his 
fleeing  daughter,  and  halted  his  whole  multi- 
tude of  followers  to  bid  them  search  for  his  mur- 
dered son. 

Ah  !  was  this  not  a  terrible  vengeance,  indeed, 
that  visited  the  king  in  return  for  the  murder 
of  Phrix'us  ?  His  darling  boy  slain  before  his 
eyes,  his  daughter  a  fugitive  and  a  fratricide ! 
What  greater  punishment  could  be  conceived  ? 

But,  though  the  Greeks  escaped  immediate 
pursuit,  they  soon  began  to  feel  the  disapproval 
of  the  gods  at  this  outrageous  crime.  The  heav- 
ens grew  pitchy  black  about  them ;  great  Zeus 
hurled  hissing  thunderbolts  into  the  waves  to 


158  JASON'S   QUEST. 

indicate  his  wrath  at  the  foul  murder,  and  sent 
the  Ar'go's  mast  by  the  board. 

I  have  an  idea,  also,  that  the  Fleece  went  over- 
board at  the  same  time,  for,  though  some  say 
Ja'son  got  back  with  it  to  Iol'cos  and  presented 
it  to  his  uncle,  the  reports  are  very  conflicting ; 
and  as,  if  Pe'lias  did  get  it,  we  hear  nothing  of 
the  treasure  afterward,  I  prefer  to  think  of  it 
as  sinking  to  the  bottom  of  the  Eux'ine,  where, 
already  double-dyed  with  blood,  it  could  never 
be  the  cause  of  other  crime  and  sorrow. 

But,  though  our  interest  in  the  Fleece  is  at  an 
end,  the  Ar'gonauts  are  still  afloat,  and  we  must 
for  a  time  follow  their  varying  fortunes.  They 
are  henceforth  to  be  much  like  Arctic  explorers, 
who  search  for  the  Unseen  Pole,  a  vanity  as  dif- 
ficult to  find  as  any  myth  for  which  the  rude 
barbarians  sought. 

Driven  by  furious  winds,  the  wanderers  came 
to  land  upon  the  northern  Eux'ine  shore  near  a 
place  called  To'mi  (cuttings)  in  after  days,  in 
memory  of  Mede'a's  murder.  There  the  hurri- 
cane abated,  and  the  Talking  Oak  proclaimed, 
in  no  uncertain  voice,  their  destiny. 


BLACK  ART  MAKES  A  BLACK  HEART.       159 

And  it  told  them  they  were,  and  ever  would 
be,  cursed,  until  they  found  some  being  who 
could  purify  Ja'son  and  Mede'a  from  their  aw- 
ful guilt ;  for  that  the  gods  would  never  lightly 
overlook  their  crime. 

Then  Mede'a  trembled  and  exclaimed :  "  Only 
one  being  in  the  wide,  wide  world  can  wash  the 
blood-guilt  from  our  hands.  That  is  Cir'ce,  my 
father's  sister ;  for  she  alone  hath  more  power- 
ful enchantments  and  more  deadly  drugs  at  her 
command  than  I." 

So  it  was  decided  that  they  must  steer  for 
Cir'ce's  Isle,  which  was  situated  somewhere  in 
the  Western  Sea. 

And  now  our  geography  is  about  to  become 
like  the  ideas  of  too  many  boys  and  girls  when 
they  read  of  real  events  in  history.  They  neg- 
lect to  look  up  unfamiliar  places  on  the  map, 
and  though,  perhaps,  they  do  not  think  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  as  stretching  from  west  to 
east,  or  of  the  St.  Lawrence  as  emptying  into 
the  Gulf  of  California,  they  have  other  notions 
as  false  and  foolish. 

That  is  why  history  is  uninteresting  to  many 


160  JASON'S   QUEST. 

people,  when  there  is  not  some  exciting  event  to 
.be  described.  They  do  not  know  the  geography 
of  the  places  about  which  they  read ;  and  such 
study  is  like  trying  to  learn  the  game  of  chess 
by  reading  about  the  moves,  and  having  neither 
board  nor  men  to  illustrate  them. 

In  the  game  we  are  about  to  play  we  have  our 
men,  but  the  board  we  must  leave  very  much  to 
each  one's  imagination. 

However,  there  will  be  enough  of  strange  and 
unexpected  incident  to  keep  up  our  interest,  I 
hope,  until  —  but  we  will  wait  "  until." 

Now  that  the  favor  of  the  gods  was  taken 
from  the  Ar'gonauts,  they  had  a  dreary,  toil- 
some journey.  The  Talking  Oak  refused  to  be 
their  guide,  and  they  could  not  tell  which  way 
to  go  ;  and  it  is  just  as  hard  for  me  to  tell  which 
way  they  went.  Pin'dar  says  they  went  through 
the  Eastern  Ocean ;  Timse'us  says  they  went 
through  the  Northern  Ocean  ;  Apollodo'rus  says 
they  went  through  the  Western  Ocean ;  and 
Herod'otus  says  they  went  back  the  same  way 
they  came.  It  is  generally  believed,  however, 
that  they  left  their  former  course  and  rowed  up 


BLACK  ART  MAKES   A  BLACK  HEART.       161 

some  river,  thinking  they  could  reach  the  ocean 
stream  at  last.  This  curious  course  took  them 
away  from  warmth  and  sunshine  to  the  land  of 
snow  and  ice,  and  a  barbarous  people.  They 
were  sometimes  attacked  as  they  rowed  sadly, 
yet  patiently,  along  :  but  they  had  no  heart  to 
fight,  —  there  was  blood  enough  already  on 
their  hands,  and  now  they  only  dreamed  of 
Cir'ce's  Isle  and  home. 

At  length  they  reached  a  place  where  there 
was  no  longer  water  sufficient  to  float  their 
ship,  and  they  were  in  despair.  But  the  Talk- 
ing Oak  seemed  to  pity  them  in  their  despair, 
and  told  them  to  make  wheels  and  draw  the 
Ar'go  up  upon  them  and  drag  it  onward  till 
they  found  another  stream. 

So  they  cut  down  trees,  and  made  great 
clumsy  roller-wheels  of  logs ;  and,  as  Or'pheus 
had  launched  the  ship  with  his  music,  so  he 
helped  them  draw  it  up  again  to  land  and 
mount  it  on  the  rude  carriage,  and  cheered 
them  with  his  strains  upon  their  toilsome 
march. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  the  head-waters  of  a 


162  JASON'S   QUEST. 

little  brook  that  flowed  in  an  opposite  direction 
to  that  which  they  had  left.  They  dragged  the 
Ar'go  with  renewed  courage  along  its  banks 
until,  after  many  a  weary  mile,  they  found  a 
river  broad  and  deep  enough  to  bear  them  on 
its  bosom. 

Down  this  river  they  sailed  into  an  icy  sea, 
and  coasted  within  hail  of  the  Cimme'rian 
deserts,  where  the  sunlight  never  comes,  and 
sailed  through  fog,  and  cloud,  and  storm,  and 
cold  —  and  still  the  Talking  Oak  refused  to 
guide  them,  and  only  Lyn'ceus'  eyes  and  Hera's 
favor  (for  she  had  not  forgotten  Ja'son,  even  in 
disgrace)  brought  them  once  more  into  light, 
and  life,  and  liberty. 

Slowly  they  toiled  back  again  to  warmer 
climes,  where  the  clear  sunlight  stirred  their 
sluggish  blood  and  made  their  hearts  leap  high 
with  joy.  And  one  day  they  approached  an 
islet,  whence  to  their  ravished  senses  came  the 
odorous  perfume  of  ten  thousand  flowers  and 
the  melodious  songs  of  birds ;  and  Lyn'ceus, 
looking  forth  while  yet  afar,  cried  that  amid  the 
green  and  grateful  shrubbery  upon  the  shores 


BLACK  ART  MAKES  A  BLACK  HEART.      163 

he  could  discover  the  loveliest  beings  he  had 
ever  looked  upon. 

It  was  the  magic  iEse'a,  where  dwelt  Cir'ce, 
daughter  of  the  Sun,  JEe'tes'  sister,  and  the 
queen  of  sorcery. 


164 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


CIRCE    AND    THE    SIRENS. 


I  have  often  heard 

My  mother  Cir'ce  and  the  Si'rens  three, 

Who  as  they  sung  would  take  the  prisoned  soul 

And  lap  it  in  Elysium. 

Milton's  Comus,  1.  252. 

F  you  look  in  Webster's  "Inter- 
national," under  the  entry  "Wood- 
pecker," you  will  find  that  that  bird 
belongs  to  the  genus  Pi'cus.  Now, 
Pi'cus  was  originally  a  handsome 
young  man, 

But  Cir'ce  long  had  lov'd  the  youth  in  vain, 
Till  love  refus'd  converted  to  disdain: 
Then,  mixing  powerful  herbs,  with  magic  art, 
She  chang'd  his  form,  who  could  not  change  his 

heart; 
Constrain'd  him  in  a  bird,  and  made  him  fly, 
With  party-colored  plumes,  a  chattering  pie  ;a 

and  since  then  every  "  pie  "  or  woodpecker,  is 
called  Picus. 

1  Appendix,  Note  44  ».. 


CIRCE  AND   THE   SIRENS.  165 

That  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  character 
and  power  of  Mede'a's  aunt, — 

"  The  daughter  of  the  Sun,  whose  charmed  cup 
Whoever  tasted,  lost  his  upright  shape, 
And  downward  fell  into  a  grovelling  swine." 

Her  favorite  method  was  to  get  somebody  to 
taste  of  her  liquor  and  then  turn  him  into  a  pig. 
And  Cir'ce  is  not  dead  yet.  Too  often  are  we 
saddened  by  the  sight  of  those  who  have  par- 
taken of  her  cup  and  lost  their  manhood. 

But  let  us  return  to  iEse'a,  the  magic  isle. 

Cir'ce  had  named  it  from  iE'a,  the  city  where 
her  brother  dwelt,  and  whence  she  fled  many 
years  before,  expelled  from  Corchis  for  the 
murder  of  her  husband.  Here  she  lived  with 
four  attendant  nymphs,  and  since  her  sojourn 
she  had  beautified  the  island  till  it  seemed  a 
veritable  Paradise ;  but,  whenever  any  luckless 
mortal  ventured  thither,  she  would  straightway 
give  him  her  cup  to  taste,  and  then  change  him 
to  a  bird  or  beast.  The  heartless  creature 
seemed  able  to  make  any  brute  she  wished,  if 
she  only  had  a  man  to  make  him  from ;  and  so 
she  soon  had  a  zoological  garden  on  a  grand 


166 


JASON'S   QUEST. 


scale, —  leopards,  wolves,  boars,  bears,  wood-peck- 
ers, owls,  bats,  etc.,  but  rather  more  swine  than 
anything  else,  for  she  seemed  to  have  a  strange 
fancy  for  these  wallowing,  stubborn  creatures.1 


CTRCE  AND   HER   VICTIMS. 

Only  one  man  ever  successfully  resisted  her  en- 
chantments, when  she  set  out  in  earnest  to  trans- 
form him  —  that  was  Odys'seus,  or  Ulys'ses,  the 
crafty  king  of  Ith'aca. 

1  Appendix,  Note  44  b. 


CIRCE  AND   THE   SIRENS.  167 

As  the  Argonauts  drew  near  the  isle,  Mede'a 
told  them  they  must  all  stay  on  board  except 
herself  and  Ja'son ;  for,  if  they  dared  to  step 
ashore,  they  would  never  be  good  for  anything 
afterwards,  except  to  travel  in  a  menagerie. . 
They  took  her  advice,  and  the  two  whose  hands 
had  been  stained  with  the  blood  of  Absyr'tus 
went  up  to  where  the  sorceress'  palace  peeped 
from  out  the  trees. 

As  they  advanced,  the  wild  beasts  gathered 
round  them,  but  offered  no  violence.  For  only 
their  forms  and  habits  had  been  changed ;  their 
minds  were  human  as  of  yore,  thus  rendering 
their  condition  still  more  pitiable.  Perchance 
this  old  myth  may  be  a  pagan  version  of  the 
Bible  tale  of  Nebuchadnez'zar.  For  you  remem- 
ber his  body  was  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven, 
and  he  ate  grass  like  an  ox  (and  went  upon  his 
hands  and  feet  perhaps)  till  his  hair  grew  as 
eagles'  feathers  and  his  nails  like  birds'  claws  — 
and  still  I  suspect  that  through  it  all  he  knew 
that  he  was  Nebuchadnez'zar,  that  had  once 
felt  every  inch  a  king. 

What  Cir'ce  did  to  Ja'son  and  Mede'a  I  can- 


168  JASON'S   QUEST. 

not  say.  I  suppose  she  went  through  some  such 
performance  as  Shakespeare  describes  in  the 
fourth  act  of  "  Macbeth  ; "  at  any  rate,  if  you  will 
read  that  scene  and  then  can  imagine  anything 
worse,  that  is  probably  how  Cir'ce  "purified" 
the  two  guilty  ones. 

There  is  a  sarcastic  old  conundrum  in  allusion 
to  the  turbid  condition  of  the  Rhine  river  water, 
which  runs  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  river  Rhine,  as  is  well  known, 
Doth  wash  the  city  of  Cologne; 
But  tell  me,  O  ye  nymphs  divine! 
What  power  can  wash  the  river  Rhine  ?  " 

We  might  ask  a  similar  question  about  Cir'ce 
—  a  murderess  herself,  a  pitiless  sorceress,  and 
jet  purifying  two  guilty  souls. 

Ah,  me  !  Those  were  dark  days  indeed,  when 
there  was  no  holier  fount  of  cleansing  than  a 
witch's  caldron ! 

At  length  Ja'son  and  his  companion  came 
back  to  their  waiting  friends,  and  straightway 
the  Talking  Oak  began  its  whispering  advice  to 
Nep'tune's  son,  who  steered,  and  the  fog  that 
had  so  frequently  dismayed  them  (for,  though 


CIRCE  AND  THE  SIRENS.  169 

Lyn'ceus  could  see  in  the  dark,  the  fog,  sent  by 
the  angry  gods,  had  proved  an  impenetrable  veil) 
cleared  away,  and  the  waves  played  musically 
around  the  good  ship's  sides,  as  her  sails  filled 
with  the  favorable  breeze ;  and  once  more,  with 
propitious  divinities  and  light  hearts,  they  stood 
for  Iorcos  and  their  native  Greece. 

Right  merrily  the  hours  flew  by,  and  the  re- 
joicing Greeks  believed  that  all  their  trials  now 
were  over,  and  that  a  few  more  days  of  pleas- 
ant incident  must  bring  them  home. 

They  were  talking  and  laughing,  and  rowing 
in  unison,  all  in  a  merry  mood,  when  suddenly 
every  oarsman  stopped  as  if  paralyzed  ;  the  wind 
that  had  been  blowing  freshly  died  away ;  and 
only  the  headway  they  had  gained  sent  the  great 
Ar'go  through  the  water. 

And,  breaking  upon  their  ears  through  the 
hush  of  twilight,  came  a  song  so  heavenly  sweet, 
it  seemed  that  all  the  world  should  stop  to  hear. 

For  they  were  approaching  the  Flowery  Isle, 
on  which  dwelt  Peisin'oe,  Aglaophe'me,  and 
Thelxie'peia,  or  Mind-persuader,  Clear-voice,  and 
Magic-speech,  the  Si'rens. 


170  JASON'S   QUEST. 

Now,  some  of  you  will  recollect  that  in  the 
very  first  chapter  I  spoke  about  the  Si'rens,  and 
said  you  would  one  day  learn  more  of  them. 

I  also  told  you  they  were  sometimes  confused 
with  Cir'ce.  And,  now  that  you  know  some- 
thing of  Cir'ce,  I  will  briefly  say  a  word  about 
her  equally  destructive  neighbors. 

They  were  beautiful  maidens,  who  lived  upon 
an  island  that  was  covered  with  the  rarest 
flowers  ;  and  all  day  long  they  sat  upon  the  ver- 
dant, sloping  shore,  and  sung  songs  that  were 
sweeter  than  any  you  ever  heard  in  your  most 
delicious  dreams,  and  that  hushed  the  very  winds 
to  wondering  calm.1 

There  was  no  food  upon  the  island,  but  they 
needed  none,  for  they  lived  entirely  by  singing, 
and  grew  more  plump  and  beautiful  and  rosy 
from  day  to  day.  They  were  very  proud  of 
their  accomplishments,  and,  as  pride  leads  to 
cruelty,  they  were  very  cruel  also.  Thus,  when- 
ever any  travellers  attempted  to  pass  by  their 
home,  they  filled  their  ears  with  such  intoxicat- 
ing melody  that  the  poor  fellows  invariably  went 

1  Appendix,  Note  45. 


CIRCE   AND   THE   SIRENS.  171 

ashore,  and  were  either  drowned  while  trying  to 
land,  or,  bewitched  by  the  maidens,  remained 
until  they  died  from  lack  of  food.  Only  once 
had  they  failed  thus  to  destroy  their  unfortu- 
nate listeners,  and  that  was  when  the  sly  Ulys'ses, 
whom  Cir'ce  tried  in  vain  to  turn  into  a  beast, 
outwitted  them,  some  years  before.  Indeed,  it 
is  Cir'ce,  rather  than  Ulys'ses,  who  deserves  the 
praise,  for  she  told  him  —  but  we  are  running 
ashore  ourselves,  I  find.  Enough  to  say,  Ulys'- 
ses got  by  the  Flowery  Isle  in  safety,  for  that 
is  another  story,  and  a  long  one  too. 

Well,  the  Si'rens  were  thoroughly  vexed  at 
the  escape  of  the  crafty  Greek,  since  they  did  not 
know  the  real  secret  of  it ;  and,  as  a  consequence, 
they  practised  their  songs  more  carefully  than 
ever,  and  improved,  of  course  —  practice  will 
improve  any  one  in  anything  —  for  they  said 
to  each  other  they  should  die  to  be  so  slighted 
once  again. 

Thus,  as  the  accents  of  their  silvery  tongues 
fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  home-bound  Ar'go- 
nauts,  the  heroes  listened  breathlessly  the  while 
the  Ar'go  drifted  toward  the  fatal  shore.     Even 


172  JASON'S  QUEST. 

Or'pheus  seemed  bewildered  for  a  time  by  their 
entrancing  tones,  and  listened,  spell-bound,  with 
the  rest.  But  soon  the  truth  flashed  upon  him, 
for  he  had  heard  of  their  harmonious  wiles;  and 
he  sprang  to  his  feet,  beseeching  his  companions 
to  stop  their  ears  and  fly. 

"  It  is  music,  0  my  friends  !  "  he  cried,  "and 
that  of  the  divinest  sort ;  but  they  who  listen 
will  be  lost !  Seize  your  oars !  Think  of  your  for- 
gotten friends  !  your  wives  !  your  fatherland  ! 
Shout !  sing !  anything  to  drown  the  witching 
melody  that  lures  us  on  to  death !  " 

But  his  words  fell  as  on  ears  of  stone,  for  every 
man  was  hearkening  to  the  heavenly  harmony 
that  came  floating  through  the  evening  air. 

Slowly,  but  certainly,  the  Ar'go  drifted  land- 
ward with  the  tide ;  and  with  every  wave-length 
of  approach,  the  even-song  of  the  delusive 
Si'rens  sounded  sweeter,  and  the  spell  grew  more 
complete. 

Splash !  went  a  form  over  the  vessel's  side, 
and  a  youth,  of  splendid  limb,  struck  out  through 
the  pellucid  water  for  the  still  distant  shore. 

It  was  Bu'tes,  the  most  beautiful  of  men,  who, 


CIRCE  AND   THE   SIRENS.  173 

like  many  others,  could  not  even  wait  till  he 
were  carried  to  destruction,  but  must  rush  to 
meet  it. 

The  heroes  looked  at  him,  yet  saw  him  not. 

And  the  Ar'go  drifted  —  drifted. 


174  JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

TOILEKS    OF    THE    SEA. 

Here  Scyl'la  bellows  from  her  dire  abodes, 
Tremendous  pest,  abhorred  by  man  and  gods ! 
Twelve  feet,  deformed  and  foul,  the  fiend  dispreads; 
Six  horrid  necks  she  rears,  and  six  terrific  heads. 

Homer.  —  Translated  by  Pope.1 

WEET  songs  are  being  sung  to- 
day, that  drag  resistless  men 
and  women  down  to  death ; 
where  the  red  wine  that 
"moved  itself  aright"  in  the 
alluring  cup  is  found  to  have 
the  serpent's  bite  and  adder's 
sting ;  where  tempters  are 
divested  of  their  loveliness 
and  mock  the  victims  of  their 
lures.  How  shall  we  break 
such  spells  before  it  is  too  late  ? 

As  Or'pheus  did  at  last  —  if  possible  ;  not  by 

1  Appendix,  Note  46. 


TOILERS  OF  THE  SEA.  175 

threats  that  sound  discordant  when  compared 
with  Si'ren  melodies,  but  by  diviner  music. 

The  great  Song  Wizard  stood  upon  the  Ar'go's 
deck,  and,  lifting  up  his  supine  hands  to  heaven, 
spoke  this  prayer  :  — 

"  0  my  father,  god  of  music,  Apollo  Musag'- 
etes,  and  thou,  chief  of  the  Mu'ses,  who  didst 
give  me  birth,  Calli'ope,  the  goddess  of  heroic 
song,  inspire  my  harp  and  voice  ! " 

Then  he  caught  up  his  lyre  and  lightly  swept 
his  fingers  across  the  quivering  strings. 

Softly  and  plaintively  he  played  at  first,  with 
such  a  far-off  sound  no  one  of  his  companions 
seemed  to  hear.  Even  when  he  joined  his  voice 
in  song,  they  thought  it  but  the  echo  of  the 
singing  maidens  on  the  shore  ;  for  he  had  skil- 
fully caught  their  refrain,  in  part,  that  he  might 
not  make  a  useless  and  ungrateful  discord. 

But,  by  and  by,  his  voice  grew  bolder,  and, 
by  Apollo's  aid,  he  took  a  leading  part,  to  which 
the  Si'ren  song  became  a  mere  accompaniment. 

The  tones  of  Or'pheus  soon  reached  the 
Flowery  Isle,  and  the  cruel  sisters  knew  full  well 
that  they  had  found  a  dangerous  rival. 


176  JASON'S   QUEST. 

So  they  redoubled  their  efforts,  till  it  seemed 
■as  if  they  would  split  their  handsome  throats 
with  singing.  But  the  Greeks,  inspirited  by  Or'- 
pheus's  counter-song,  caught  up  their  oars  again, 
set  the  Ar'go  once  more  upon  her  course,  and 
pulled,  with  strong  strokes,  seaward,  till  the 
luring  call  died  in  the  distance. 

But  how  did  the  enchanted  Bu'tes  fare  ? 

He  swam,  in  dreamy  ecstasy,  till  he  had 
nearly  reached  the  shore,  when  Aphrodi'te,  pity- 
ing his  youth  and  beauty,  caught  him  from  the 
waves  and  bore  him  through  the  air  in  safety  to 
Lilybae'um,  on  the  coast  of  Sic'ily. 

Then  were  the  songful  sisters  filled  with  rage 
and  grief.  Years  before  they  had,  at  their  re- 
quest, been  given  wings,  that  they  might  search 
for  lost  Proser'pina  (Deme'ter's  daughter,  whom 
Ha'des  1  stole)  over  land  and  sea. 

During  their  search  they  challenged  the  Nine 
Mu'ses  to  a  trial  of  song.  But  what  could  they 
avail  against  the  Daughters  of  Zeus  ?  The 
Mu'ses  triumphed,  and  plucked  the  feathers  from 
the  Sirens'  wings  to  deck  themselves  withal ; 

i  Pluto. 


TOILERS  OF  THE  SEA.  177 

and  thenceforth  the  vanquished  maidens  dwelt 
upon  the  Flowery  Isle  and  kept  their  useless, 
naked  wings  concealed. 

They  had  recognized  in  Orpheus' s  voice  a 
resemblance  to  that  of  Calli'ope,  of  hated  mem- 
ory ;  and  now,  when  their  last  victim  was  spirited 
away,  they  could  no  longer  contain  themselves, 
but,  running  to  the  boldest  crag  upon  their 
island,  each  clasped  the  others  in  her  arms  and 
leaped  into  the  sea.  No  sooner  did  they  touch 
the  waves,  than  a  swift  change  came  over  them. 
They  were  turned  to  rocks  ;  and  those  who  know 
the  island  where  they  lived,  may  find  them  there 
to-day. 

Meantime,  the  Argonauts  passed  on,  cheered 
by  the  song  of  Or'pheus,  who  now  raised  a 
paean  to  the  gods  —  above  all,  to  Apol'lo  and 
Calli'ope  —  for  their  deliverance. 

But  all  their  perils  were  not  past ;  for  lo ! 
as  darkness  fell,  they  heard  beyond  them  the 
hoarse  barking  of  the  dreaded  monster  Scyl'la, 
and  so  waited  for  the  light. 

Several  stories  are  told  of  Scyl'la's  birth  and 
history,  one  of  which,  alone,  I  will  relate. 


178  JASON'S   QUEST. 

In  early  life  she  was  a  beautiful  maiden ; 
and,  as  she  went  down  one  day  to  bathe  in  the 
blue  waters  of  the  Mediterranean,  Glau'cus,  a 
sea-god,  loved  her. 

It  was  not  unusual  then,  according  to  the 
ancient  myths,  for  gods  to  fall  in  love  with 
mortals ;  but  there  was  especial  reason  in  this 
case,  for  Glau'cus  had  once  been  a  man  himself, 
who  had  leaped  into  the  sea  just  as  the  Si'rens 
did,  but  for  a  different  cause  —  and  had  been 
made  a  sea-god  in  consequence.  Yet,  we  may 
suppose,  a  little  of  his  human  nature  still  re- 
mained ;  and  when  he  saw  the  beautiful  Scyl'la 
come  down  to  the  shore,  he  popped  his  head 
above  the  waves  and  asked  her  to  marry  him. 

But  there  was  sea-weed  in  his  hair,  and  he 
had  a  fish's  tail,  and  as  to  his  eyes  and  com- 
plexion he  was  green  —  all  sea-gods  are  to  this 
day  ;  an  invisible  green,  however  —  so  the  maiden 
never  even  stopped  to  answer  him,  but  ran  away 
as  fast  as  possible. 

Then  Glau'cus  went  to  Cir'ce,  and  told  her  of 
his  love,  and  begged  that  she  would  help  him. 

Cir'ce  was  abundantly  able  to    do  this,  and, 


TOILERS   OF  THE   SEA.  179 

perhaps,  would  have  complied  with  the  young 
merman's  request  but  for  one  serious  obstacle 
—  she  herself  fell  in  love  with  Glau'cus. 

But  Cir'ce  had  continual  bad  luck  in  her  mat- 
ters of  the  heart.  No  one  wanted  a  woman  who 
was  so  exceedingly  wise,  even  if  she  were  a 
handsome  widow. 

So  Glau'cus  thanked  her  politely,  but  said,  if 
it  were  all  the  same  to  her,  he  believed  he'd  have 
Scyl'la.  Cir'ce  then  invited  him  to  take  a  glass 
of  wine  with  her,  thinking  she  would  make  him 
less  divine,  or  human  even,  than  he  then  ap- 
peared ;  but  he  had  heard  of  Pi'cus,  and  so  said 
he  never  drank  anything  but  salt  water  —  it 
was  against  his  principles  and  didn't  agree  with 
his  constitution. 

Being  thwarted  in  this  direction,  Cir'ce  sought 
revenge  for  her  slighted  love  in  another  quarter. 

It  was  unfortunate  to  be  young  and  handsome 
anywhere  in  Cir'ce's  vicinity,  she  was  so  very 
susceptible,  yet  took  such  speedy  vengeance  on 
disobedient  husbands  or  unresponsive  youths. 

Glau'cus  plunged  into  the  waves  and  swam 
meditatively  away,  fully  convinced  he  could  de- 


180  JASON'S   QUEST. 

rive  no  aid  from  the  sorceress,  but  little  dream- 
ing of  the  revenge  she  had  already  planned. 

The  cruel  creature  hastened  home,  and  made 
a  magic  mixture  of  poisonous  herbs.  Then  she 
went  speedily  to  Scyl'la's  favorite  bathing-place, 
and  poured  the  compound  into  the  waters,  mut- 
tering charms  and  incantations  all  the  while. 

Soon  Scyl'la  came,  as  was  her  wont,  disrobed 
herself,  and  dashed  into  the  cool  blue  depths. 

But,  to  her  horror,  she  found  herself  sur- 
rounded by  barking  monsters,  from  which  she 
tried  in  vain  to  flee.  She  did  not  know  the 
dreadful  truth  until  she  stepped  upon  the  shore. 
Then  she  found  herself  walking  on  twelve  feet, 
and  discovered  that  she  was  human  only  to  the 
waist.  All  the  rest  of  her  beautiful  body  and 
limbs  had  been  changed  into  six  frightful  crea- 
tures, with  long  necks,  and  wolfish  heads,  with 
hungry  jaws. 

Ignorant  of  the  cause  of  her  sad  plight,  but 
knowing  herself  unfitted  for  human  society,  the 
transformed  maiden  cast  herself  again  into  the 
surging  brine. 

Then,  as  the  wretched  seek    companions  in 


TOILERS   OF   THE   SEA. 


181 


their  wretchedness,  she  swam  to  what  are  now 
the  Straits  of  Messina, 1  between  Sic'ily  and 
Italy,  and,  finding  a  dark  cave  on  the  Italian 
shore  opposite  the  comrade  whom  she  sought  — 


SCYLLA. 


Charyb'dis  —  she  there  fixed  her  abode,  and 
lived  upon  the  porpoises  and  seals  that  gambolled 
near.     And,  when  a  boat  passed  within  reach, 


1  Pronounced  Mes-se'-na. 


182  JASON'S  QUEST. 

she  would  dart  out  from  the  cavern  and  drag 
the  reckless  sailors  in  to  direful  death. 

You  may  think  it  strange  that  men  ever  went 
near  enough  for  her  to  seize  them.  Well,  we 
sometimes  say  of  a  man  that  he  has  "  jumped 
from  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire."  The  an- 
cients used  to  say,  "  Incidit  in  Scyllam,  cwpiens 
vitare  Char yh  dim. ,f  (He  falls  upon  Scyl'la,  de- 
siring to  avoid  Charyb'dis.)  This  was  what 
sailors  often  did. 

But  who  was  Charyb'dis  ? 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


183 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


HOMEWAED   BOUND. 


Close  by,  a  rock  of  less  enormous  height 
Breaks  the  wild  waves,  and  forms  a  dangerous  strait; 
Beneath,  Charyb'dis  holds  her  boisterous  reign 
'Midst  roaring  whirlpools,  and  absorbs  the  main. 

Homer.  —  Translated  by  Pope.1 

NCE  Charyb'dis  had 
been  a  fair  young  mai- 
den ;  but  when  Her'acles 
came  down  through  Italy, 
driving  the  magnificent 
oxen  he  had  won  from 
Ge'ryon,  she  contrived  to 
steal  some  of  the  finest  of 
the  herd.  Great  Zeus 
(Jupiter),  who  watched 
over  his  son's  labors  with 
deep  anxiety,  was  so  angry  at  this  that  he  hurled 
one  of  his  thunderbolts  at  Charyb'dis' s  head, 

1  Appendix,  Note  47. 


184  JASON'S   QUEST. 

knocked  her,  I  don't  know  how  many  miles,  and 
made  a  natural  curiosity  of  her.  I  will  let  Ver'- 
gil  describe  her  after  the  transformation  :  — 

"  On  the  right  hand  is  Scyl'la,  and  on  the  left 
the  unappeased  Charyb'dis  sits ;  and  thrice  in 
succession  she  sucks  the  huge  waves  into  her 
capacious  throat,  and,  at  equal  intervals,  belches 
them  forth  again,  and  lashes,  with  their  spray, 
the  very  stars."  1 

The  Greek  poet  Homer,  whom  I  have  quoted 
at  the  head  of  the  chapter,  also  calls  her  "  di- 
vine," I  suppose  out  of  respect  to  her  parents,2 
and  represents  her  as  more  dangerous  than 
Scyl'la. 

It  was  from  dread  of  these  two  monsters  that 
the  Grecians  waited  for  the  light. 

Yet  they  never  would  have  passed  in  safety 
but  for  Pe'leus,  one  of  their  number. 

He  had  married  The'tis,  a  sea-nymph,  who 
lived  in  great  splendor  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Mediterranean.  That  is  to  say,  her  father  Ne'- 
reus  lived  there,   but  she  was  an  amphibious 

1  Appendix,  Note  48. 

2  Poseidon  and  Ge  (Terra). 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  185 

beauty,  and  could  live  on  land  also ;  else  Pe'leus 
would  have  been  a  widower  all  bis  wedded  life, 
for  he  couldn't  breathe  under  water  any  better 
than  you  can.  Luckily  for  Pe'leus  and  our 
other  heroes,  The'tis  was  then  at  home  on  a 
visit,  and  her  sister  Ne'reids  had  proposed  to  her 
a  little  marine  picnic,  to  which  she  had  agreed. 
Preparations  had  been  made  for  this  event  with 
a  great  deal  more  confidence  than  is  felt  in  get- 
ting ready  for  picnics  of  the  usual  earthly  sort ; 
for,  as  the  girls  were  immortal,  they  were  sure 
of  being  alive  and  well  the  next  morning ;  and 
they  had  no  anxiety  about  the  weather,  since 
they  didn't  care  a  sea-shell  whether  it  rained  or 
not. 

Next  morning  they  were  up  betimes,  when  it 
first  occurred  to  them  that  they  had  not  decided 
where  to  go.  So  they  agreed  to  leave  the  whole 
matter  to  Amphitri/te,  the  wife  of  Posei'don, 
who  knew  the  sea-bottom  better  than  any  of 
the  others.  She  accordingly  proposed  that  they 
should  take  a  trip  round  the  island  of  Sic'ily, 
and  visit  the  spot  "  where  Scyl'la  frowned  and 
where  Charyb'dis  roared." 


186  JASON'S  QUEST. 

All  liked  the  plan,  and  they  started  forth  in 
high  glee. 

When  they  had  nearly  reached  the  spot,  some- 
thing passed  over  their  heads  that  seemed  like 
a  flying  cloud.  At  this  all  looked  up,  naturally 
enough;  while  the  silver-footed  The'tis  uttered 
a  cry,  and  darted  to  the  surface  quicker  than  a 
pickerel.  For  the  something  was  the  Ar'go,  and 
she  had  seen  Pe'leus  looking  over  the  rail. 

On  learning  of  the  Greeks'  intent  to  run  the 
dangerous  gantlet,  Thesis  shuddered  at  what 
the  probable  result  of  the  endeavor  would  have 
been  had  she  not  happened  around  at  such  a  for- 
tunate moment ;  but  quickly  calling  to  her  sis- 
ters, who  were  waiting  for  her  down  below,  they 
gathered  around  the  Ar'go  on  either  side,  and 
joyously  bore  it  through  the  waves  in  safety  to 
the  open  sea.  Nor  did  they  leave  the  heroes  till 
they  guided  the  good  ship  beyond  the  Pe'trai 
Plagk'tai,1  or  the  Wandering  Rocks,  and  past 
the  Island  of  the  Sun,  whereon  the  sacred  oxen 
fed.  There  they  separated,  with  mutual  good 
wishes ;  and  the  sea-nymphs  went  back  to  their 

1  Pronounced  pet'-rye  plank'-tie. 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  187 

picnic,  while  the  Argonauts  continued  till  they 
came  to  the  isles  of  the  Phasa'cians. 

The  Phsea'cians  were  said  to  have  descended 
from  Phaa'ax,  one  of  Posei'don's  many  sons. 
They  were  a  lazy  and  luxuriant  people,  who 
thought  more  of  something  good  to  eat  and 
drink  than  of  almost  anything  else.  Indeed, 
Horace,  a  great  Latin  poet,  calls  a  certain  glut- 
ton, Phce'ax,  in  allusion  to  the  well-known  hab- 
its of  this  people.  Ho'mer  says  they  lived  upon 
the  Island  Scheria,  which  some  think  was  the 
same  as  old  Corcy'ra,  now  called  Cor'fu ;  but 
other  great  scholars  choose  to  think  of  it  as 
wholly  fabulous. 

At  this  island  there  was  an  unexpected  meet- 
ing. The  Col'chians,  whom  iEe'tes  had  sent 
out  in  pursuit  of  his  daughter,  had  separated 
into  three  bands,  and  one  of  them  was  at  the 
Isle  of  Sche'ria.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Ar'go- 
nauts,  JEe'tes  subjects  at  once  urged  Alcin'ous, 
the  king  of  the  island,  to  give  up  Mede'a  to 
them,  that  they  might  take  her  back  to  her 
father.  This  Alcin'ous  agreed  to  do,  if  she 
were   not   already  Ja'son's  wife.     The   matter 


188  JASON'S  QUEST. 

was  to  be  decided  the  next  day ;  but  meanwhile 
*  Are'te,  the  Phsea'cian  queen,  who  was  some- 
thing of  a  match-maker,  called  in  a  priest  and 
had  the  couple  married  that  night ;  and  so  the 
Col'chians  were  disappointed  after  all.  They 
did  not  dare  return  to  iEe'tes  empty-handed,  so 
they  remained  in  Alcino'iis's  kingdom. 

Now,  as  history  states  that  a  colony  of  Col'- 
chians  settled  in  the  Isle  of  Cor'fa  about  the 
year  1349,  B.  C,  that  furnishes  one  reason  for 
supposing  that  the  ancient  Sche'ria  and  the  mod- 
ern Cor'fu  may  be  the  same.  It  will  also  give 
us  some  idea  of  the  time  when  the  First  Ship 
made  her  eventful  voyage.  But  always  recol- 
lect that  deeds  and  dates  alike  are  doubtful  in 
the  mythologic  times. 

Assuming  Cor'fu,  or  Corey 'ra,  to  be  the  island 
whence  the  home-bound  Ar'gonauts  now  em- 
bark, we  may  follow  the  remainder  of  their 
route  upon  the  map  with  ease.  They  sailed 
south,  of  course,  but  did  not  succeed  in  doubling 
Cape  Male'a,  as  they  had  hoped,  for  a  violent 
wind  drove  them  to  the  coast  of  Lib'ya  (Africa). 

Here  they  went  on   shore,   and   lost  one  of 


HOMEWARD  BOUND.  189 

their  companions  by  so  doing.  Mop'sus,  who 
had  served  them  so  well  in  the  passage  of  the 
Dark  Blue  Dashers,  trod  on  one  of  the  serpents 
which  infest  the  Lib'yan  coast,  was  bitten,  and 
died.  The  Greeks  were  filled  with  sorrow  at 
his  loss ;  and  Ja'son  built  for  him  a  handsome 
monument  upon  the  shore,  where,  in  after  days, 
the  Africans  erected  a  memorial  temple. 

After  the  burial  of  their  dead  friend,  the  he- 
roes started  homeward  once  again,  and  came  to 
the  island  of  Crete.  There  they  attempted  to 
land,  when  Ta'los,  or  Ta'lus,  the  man  of  brass, 
came  rushing  down  to  meet  them. 

I  have  before  told  you  that  he  was  made  by 
Hephses'tos. 

He  was  the  guardian  of  the  island  Crete,  and 
used  to  run  around  it,  with  unwearied  steps, 
three  times  a  day,  on  the  lookout  for  travellers. 
If  he  saw  any  people  approaching  the  shore,  he 
would  jump  into  a  big  fire  and  heat  himself  red- 
hot.  Then,  when  they  landed,  the  hard-hearted 
fellow  would  seize  them  in  his  arms,  and  press 
them  to  his  glowing  breast,  and  lay  his  brazen 
cheek   against   their   terror-stricken  faces,  and 


190  JASON'S  QUEST. 

laugh,  with  fiendish  glee,  at  his  victims'  shrieks 
'of  agony,  until  he  cast  them  from  him,  a  mere 
mass  of  scorched  and  shrivelled  flesh. 

From  neck  to  heel  there  ran  a  single  vein,  in 
which  his  boiling  life-blood  coursed  ;  and  as  the 
Ar'gonauts  drew  near,  Poe'as,  a  skilful  archer, 
caught  up  the  bow  which  Her'acles  had  left  on 
board,  and  sent  a  steel-pointed  arrow  whizzing 
towards  the  brazen  sentinel. 

It  struck  the  fatal  vein,  and  forth  there 
gushed  a  stream  of  liquid  fire,  that  fell  upon 
the  water  with  a  smoking  hiss.  Ta'los  reeled 
and  staggered,  made  a  desperate  but  unsuccess- 
ful effort  to  keep  his  feet,  then  fell,  with  hideous 
clang,  upon  the  loud-resounding  shore.1 

Having  landed  and  obtained  supplies,  the  Ar'- 
gonauts again  pressed  forward  ;  for  now  that  they 
were  nearing  home,  it  seemed  as  if  they  could 
not  wait  a  single  instant,  but  must  voyage  night 
and  day. 

But  a  thick  darkness  fell  about  them,  and 
they  wandered  from  their  course ;  for  either 
Lyn'ceus's  eyes  were  dim  with  long  watching, 
and   with   weeping   for   Mop'sus'    fate,    or  the 

i  Appendix,  Note  49. 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  191 

darkness  was  a  supernatural  one,  sent  by  some 
hostile  divinity  to  destroy  them,  or  by  some 
friendly  one  to  try  their  faith. 

Then  Apollo  pitied  them,  and  took  his  stand 
on  the  Melan'tian  Rocks,  and  shot  an  arrow, 
which  flashed  forth  with  such  a  vivid  light  it 
could  be  seen  a  hundred  miles  away.  The  lost 
mariners  then  saw,  near  at  hand,  an  island,  on 
which  they  landed  ;  and  because  it  came  to  them 
so  suddenly  from  the  darkness,  they  called  it 
An'aphe  [appeared) ;  and  by  the  name  of  An'aphi 
it  is  known  to-day. 

Next  morning  they  erected  an  altar  to 
Apol'lo  iEgle'tes,  the  Lightener,  and  offered  sac- 
rifices. Then  they  went  to  the  island  of 
^Egi'na,  and  took  a  fresh  supply  of  water,  thence 
between  Euboe'a  and  Lo'cris  to  the  Pagase'an 
bay,  and  home  ! 

There  was  great  rejoicing  in  Iol'cos  on  that 
day,  for  the  adventurers  had  been  gone  so  long 
that  all  their  friends  believed  them  dead. 

But  amid  the  general  gladness  there  was  one 
heart  heavy  with  rage  and  disappointment. 

It  beat  in  the  false  bosom  of  the  wicked 
Pe'lias. 


192 


JASON'S  QUEST. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


LIFE    AND    DEATH. 


Ja'son  ^Eson'ides 1  afflictive  toils  achieved 
(Which  Pe'lias,  mighty  monarch,  bold  in  wrong, 
Unrighteous,  violent  of  deed,  imposed:) 
And  much  enduring  reached  th'  Iol'chian  coast. 

Hesiod.  —  Translated  by  Elton.2 

ELL,  my  young  friends,  the 
story  of  the  Ar'go  is  nearly 
done.  Some  of  you  have 
gone  with-  me,  in  spirit, 
through  the  whole  eventful 
voyage.  And  as  fellow- 
travellers  on  board  an  ocean 
steamer,  when  the  port  is 
reached  at  which  they  are- 
to  separate,  bid  each  other 
good-by  with  a  lingering 
hand-clasp,  and  with  hopes  of  other  meetings  in 
the  days  to  come  —  so  now  as  I  leave  you  with 

1  Son  of  iE'son.  2  Appendix,  Note  50. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH.  193 

reluctance,  I  have  hopes  that  some  time  hereafter 
we  may  together  tread  the  mythologic  fields 
again. 

If  I  were  to  tell  you  all  the  various  accounts 
of  Ja'son  and  Mede'a  after  they  landed  at 
Iorcos,  you  would  be  utterly  confused.  So  I 
shall  not  even  hint  at  many  of  them,  but  from 
the  curious  mass  of  myths  I  shall  select  those 
that  are  most  consistent  with  the  tale,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  those  to  which  you  will  find  allusions 
in  the  poems  and  sketches  of  our  best  authors. 

Thus,  among  the  works  of  Campbell,  there  is 
a  translation  from  another  poet,  the  Greek 
Eurip'ides,  which  begins :  — 

"  Oh,  haggard  queen  !  to  Athens  dost  thou  guide 
Thy  glowing  chariot,  steeped  in  kindred  gore." 

Now,  I  have  grave  doubts  whether  the  best 
of  you  can  explain  that  allusion ;  but  when  this 
tale  is  ended,  I  hope  you  will  understand  that, 
and  be  ready  for  something  harder. 

There  was  great  feasting  when  the  Greeks 
returned  to  Thes'saly,  as  you  might  suppose  ; 
but  our  hero,  Ja'son,  did  not  find  perfect  enjoy- 
ment.     His  poor  old  mother  was  dead  ;    and 


194  JASON'S  QUEST. 

some  hinted  that  she  had  been  so  cruelly  treated 
by  Pe'lias  that  she  had  died  by  her  own  hand. 
iE'son  himself  was  in  his  dotage,  hardly  recog- 
nized his  son,  and  could  take  no  active  part  in 
his  welcome  home. 

Pe'lias  was  old  too ;  but  as  his  father  was  a 
god,  he  did  not  mind  his  age  so  much  as  his  half- 
brother,  though  ^'son  was  several  years  his 
junior.  And  he  still  refused  to  give  up  the 
kingdom.  As  usual,  he  found  some  excuse  for 
his  refusal :  he  was  very  fertile  in  reasons  — 
most  rascals  are. 

He  claimed  that  Ja'son  had  not  fulfilled  the 
conditions  on  which  he  was  to  have  the  crown. 
He  had  not  brought  back  the  Golden  Fleece.1 
Ja'son  was  quite  downcast  at  first,  and  it  is  un- 
certain what  he  would  have  done  had  it  not 
been  for  Mede'a.  She  encouraged  him  to  rouse 
up  from  his  melancholy,  promising  to  make 
iE'son  young  again,  and  to  obtain  the  kingdom 
of  Iorcos  for  himself. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  Ja'son  should  have 
had  a   great  deal  of   confidence  in   his  wife's 

i  See  p.  158. 


LIFE  AND  DEATH.  195 

ability,  for  she  had  already  proved  herself  the 
wiser,  if  the  wickeder,  of  the  two.  So,  like  a 
good  sensible  husband,  he  left  everything  to  her 
management,  and  said  he  would  run  down  to 
Cor'inth,  and  dedicate  the  Ar'go  to  the  sea-god, 
Posei'don,  who  had  a  temple  there. 

For  he  felt  grateful  to  the  ruler  of  the  waters 
for  his  safe  return  at  last,  and  did  not,  like  too 
many  sailors,  forget  his  prayers  as  soon  as  he 
got  to  land. 

No  sooner  had  Ja'son  left  home,  than  Mede'a 
began  to  prepare  her  plot. 

It  was  now  full  moon,  the  time  all  witches 
take  to  gather  magic  herbs. 

No  ice-flower  needed  she  this  time,  yet  plants 
of  no  less  potence  sought  she,  far  and  wide. 
She  cut  them  always  with  a  brazen  sickle,  and 
tied  them  up  in  separate  bundles,  with  hairs  from 
the  tail  of  a  snow-white  horse. 

She  searched  the  forest  through,  and  climbed 
the  steeps  of  Pe'lion,  and,  more  than  once,  called 
down  that  serpent-chariot  —  which  seemed  to  be 
ever  in  mid-air  above  her  waiting  her  command 
—  and  flashed  off  to  some  far-distant  peak,  or 


196  JASON'S   QUEST. 

into  the  tangled  depths  of  some  untrodden 
swamp,  in  search  of  plants,  and  seeds,  and 
stones,  and  shells,  and  blood,  and  living  things, 
necessary  to  compound  the  wondrous  liquid  on 
which  hung  the  hopes  of  her  success. 

When  all  was  ready,  she  came  back  again  to 
.^E'son  's  hut ;  for  during  all  this  time  she  had 
not  stepped  her  foot  within  a  house,  or  spoken 
to  a  living  soul.  She  waited  till  the  old  man 
had  fallen  asleep,  and  then  shut  herself  up  with 
him  alone,  and  began  her  sorcery. 

Peacefully  the  old  man  slept  upon  his  bed, 
while  iEe'tes's  daughter  into  her  witches'  cal- 
dron cast  the  material  she  had  so  carefully  pro- 
vided. She  muttered  and  mumbled,  and  her 
eyes  shone  with  an  unearthly  light,  as  she  stirred 
the  seething  mass  with  a  dead  twig  which  she 
had  gathered  on  the  mountain. 

Now  and  then  she  would  break  off  a  portion 
of  the  brittle  branch,  while  her  brows  were  knit 
as  in  supreme  anxiety  or  pain. 

Suddenly  her  forehead  became  smooth,  and  an 
eager  look  of  expectation  overspread  her  face. 
The  twig  bent  now,  instead  of  breaking. 


LIFE   AND  DEATH.  197 

A  moment  more,  and  buds  appeared  upon  the 
naked  wood  ;  then  leaves  shot  forth,  and  covered 
it  with  green  ;  and  what  had  been  the  end  I  may 
not  say,  for  Mede'a  threw  it  hastily  upon  the 
floor,  and,  catching  a  knife  from  her  girdle, 
plunged  it  to  the  hilt  in  sleeping  iE'son's  throat. 

What  think  you  Ja'son  would  have  said,  had 
he  been  witness  of  this  bloody  act  ?  Would  not 
the  memory  of  the  boy  Absyr'tus,  and  the 
thought  of  all  the  long  and  toilsome  wanderings 
of  the  Greeks,  combined  with  the  sight  of  his 
white-haired,  bleeding  father,  have  caused  him 
to  hate  this  handsome  woman  with  eternal 
hatred  ?  It  would  seem  so ;  and  that,  per- 
chance, was  why  she  worked  her  spell  in  Ja'son' s 
absence. 

The  purple  blood  ran  down,  and  formed  a 
dark  pool  on  the  earthen  floor.  The  old  man's 
face  was  white,  and  his  form  was  still. 

It  was  the  critical  moment.  Haste  would  be 
fatal ;  delay,  deadly.  Mede'a' s  hand  did  not 
tremble,  but  a  bright  spot  burned  on  either 
cheek,  as  she  ladled  out  some  of  her  steaming 
liquid  with  a  curious  shell,  and  poured  it  into 


198  JASON'S   QUEST. 

the  knife-wound  in  the  dead  man's  throat. 
Again  and  again  she  repeated  the  act,  and 
then  sealed  the  opening  with  a  thin  strip  of 
tenacious  bark,  smeared  with  some  adhesive 
gum.  Then  she  filled  a  silver  goblet  with  the 
liquid  that  was  left,  and,  raising  the  body  to  a 
sitting  posture,  poured  it  down  the  throat. 

The  change  was  marvellous,  and  quicker  than 
the  eye  could  follow ;  it  was  as  if  a  juggler  had 
thrown  off  a  false  beard  and  wig,  and  stood 
before  you  quite  another  man. 

"His  feeble  frame  resumes  a  youthful  air, 
A  glossy  brown  bis  hoary  beard  and  hair; 
The  meagre  paleness  from  his  aspect  fled, 
And  in  its  room  sprang  up  a  florid  red; 
Thro'  all  his  limbs  a  youthful  vigor  flies, 
His  emptied  arteries  swell  with  fresh  supplies."  1 

JEson  was  young  again,  —  as  young  to  all 
seeming  as  was  his  son,  who  so  lately  had 
mourned  his  father's  feebleness.  And  Mede'a 
had  done  it  all.  What  power  she  possessed  ! 
and  how  sad  it  was  that  she  sometimes  used 
that  power  for  evil ! 

Young  iE'son  called  up  to  see  old  Pe'lias  the 

1  Appendix,  Note  51. 


MEDEA  S    MAGIC. 


LIFE   AND  DEATH.  199 

next  morning,  and,  you  may  well  believe,  the 
latter  was  surprised.  He  was  very  gracious  to 
his  brother,  and  wished  to  know  all  about  what 
had  happened  to  effect  such  a  marvellous  result. 
iE'son  did  not  tell  him,  for  the  very  reason  that 
he  did  not  know  himself.  He  only  knew  that 
Mede'a  had  done  it,  but,  for  the  life  of  him,  he 
couldn't  tell  how ;  because,  you  see,  he  was 
asleep  at  the  time,  and  was  as  much  surprised, 
when  he  woke  up,  as  Adam  was  when  he  found 
Eve. 

Pe'lias  felt  gloomy  enough  ;  and,  to  aggravate 
the  matter,  his  birthday  was  approaching.  Now, 
if  anything  will  make  a  man  (or  woman,  either) 
feel  old,  it  is  to  have  a  birthday  come  around, 
with  its  provoking  regularity  of  appearance. 

But  Pe'lias  had  several  daughters,  who  loved 
their  father  as  good  daughters  should ;  and  they 
resolved  to  give  him  a  unique  birthday  gift. 
So  they  went  to  see  Mede'a,  and  tried  to  bribe 
her  to  sell  them  the  secret  by  which  she  had 
made  Ja'son's  father  young. 

This  was  just  the  thing  for  which  Mede'a 
hoped.     So  she  appointed  a  meeting  with  them 


200  JASON'S   QUEST. 

in  a  secluded  spot  at  midnight,  telling  them  to 
bring  an  old  sheep  that  was  worthless,  and  just 
ready  to  die. 

They  were  promptly  at  the  spot,  as  directed ; 
and  there  Mede'a  pretended  to  show  them  how 
to  work  the  charm. 

She  had  a  little  of  her  powerful  elixir  left, 
with  which  she  sent  the  bubbling  wine  of  youth 
coursing  through  iE'son's  veins.  She  took  that 
along  with  her,  and  secretly  put  it  in  the  cal- 
dron. Then,  in  the  presence  of  the  sisters,  she 
laid  in  some  herbs  that  they  well  knew,  but 
having  no  virtue  in  themselves,  either  for  good 
or  ill,  and,  covering  them  with  clear  spring- 
water,  kindled  a  fire  beneath. 

She  then  taught  them  a  pretended  form  of 
words  which  they  must  repeat.  When  this  was 
duly  learned,  and  the  water  had  begun  to  boil, 
she  plunged  the  knife  into  the  throat  of  the 
sheep,  and  ordered  the  girls  to  cut  him  quickly 
in  pieces  and  throw  him  into  the  caldron. 
They  did  as  ordered,  and,  in  a  few  short  seconds, 
while  they  repeated  what  they  believed  were 
magic  words,  something  bounced  up  against  the 


MEDEA  S    REVENGE. 


LIFE  AND  DEATH.  201 

lid  and  knocked  it  off,  and  out  jumped  a  beauti- 
ful lamb,  and  ran  frisking  away.  For  not  as 
much  care  was  required  to  make  over  a  sheep 
as  to  reconstruct  a  man,  and  the  life-giving 
liquor  at  the  bottom  of  the  kettle  had  done  its 
work. 

The  sisters  were  delighted  with  their  experi- 
ment, and  could  hardly  wait  for  the  eventful 
day  to  dawn. 

It  came  at  last,  as  days  do,  whether  expected 
or  not,  and  this  was  what  it  brought. 

On  the  night  before,  Mede'a  gave  Pe'lias's 
daughters  a  sleeping  potion  to  administer  to 
their  father,  so  that  he  should  not  wake  and  in- 
terrupt the  ceremony.  Why  she  did  not  give 
him  something  in  this  draught  to  kill  him  de- 
cently, and  save  the  awful  scene  that  was  to 
come,  I  cannot  understand.  It  must  have  been 
on  account  of  that  vein  of  cruelty  which  we 
know  ran  through  her  nature,  for  we  must  not 
forget  she  was  old  iEe'tes's  daughter,  and,  had 
she  not  loved  Ja'son,  she  would  have  rejoiced  at 
his  destruction  as  grimly  as  the  Corchian  king 
himself. 


202  JASON'S   QUEST. 

A  few  minutes  before  midnight,  the  usurper's 
daughters  tenderly,  and  with  trembling  expecta- 
tion, bore  their  father's  sleeping  form  to  an 
upper  room  in  the  palace.  Mede'a  was  already 
there  to  oversee  the  ceremony  and  make  sure, 
as  she  said,  that  there  were  no  mistakes.  But, 
with  a  refinement  of  cruelty  that  could  only 
dwell  in  a  witch's  heart,  she  said  that  the  sisters 
must  do  everything  themselves,  giving  as  a 
reason  that  their  father  would  love  them  so 
much  the  more,  if  they  alone  should  bring  his 
lost  youth  back. 

When  the  midnight  hour  came,  they  lighted 
the  fire,  threw  in  the  herbs,  and  poured  in  the 
pure  spring-water.  Presently  the  steam  began 
to  lift  the  copper  lid,  and  Mede'a  exclaimed, 
"  Now  is  the  time  !  " 

The  brave  girls  shuddered,  for  the  next  act 
was  to  dismember  their  own  beloved  parent. 
A  moment  they  stood  motionless,  when  Mede'a 
cried  :  — 

"  Fools  !     Will  ye  lose  all  ?  " 

Frenzied  by  these  words,  Alces'tis  rushed  to 
her  father's  side  and  dealt  the  first  and  fatal 


LIFE   AND  DEATH.  203 

blow.  We  will  draw  a  veil  over  the  dreadful 
scene.  Enough  to  say  that  the  disjointed  Pe'lias 
was  soon  in  the  steaming  caldron,  around  which 
his  anxious  daughters  stood  with  burdened  hearts. 

But,  as  you  are  prepared  to  know,  they  waited 
in  vain.  Mede'a,  whose  work  was  done,  stole 
out  silently,  and  they  were  left  alone.  When 
they  found  out  the  cruel  stratagem,  their  hearts 
were  ready  to  break.  They  rushed  from  the 
chamber  of  death,  and  Alces'tis  sought  out  her 
brother  Acas'tus,  and  told  him  all. 

"  Miserable  girl !  "  he  cried,  "  for  this  act 
thou  shalt  die !  "  and  he  lifted  up  his  sword  to 
smite  her,  but  she  fled  to  her  husband,  Adme'tus, 
one  of  the  returned  Ar'gonauts.  Acas'tus  made 
an  attack  upon  him  and  took  him  prisoner,  and 
was  about  to  slay  him,  when  Alces'tis  came,  and 
offered  herself  as  his  ransom. 

In  the  mean  time,  Ja'son  was  concerting  meas- 
ures for  gaining  the  kingdom  of  Iol'cos.  Pe'leus, 
who  had  an  ancient  grudge  to  settle  with  Acas'- 
tus's  queen,  readily  joined  him;  and  the  Dioscu'ri 
(Cas'tor  and  Polydeu'ces)  agreed  to  go,  just  for 
the  love  of  adventure.      At  that  time,  too,  it 


204  JASON'S  QUEST. 

happened  that  Her'acles,  who  had  got  back  to 
Greece,  came,  wearied,  from  one  of  his  mighty 
exploits,  and  rested  at  the  house  of  Adme'tus. 
He  there  learned  of  the  impending  fate  of 
Alces'tis,  and  vowed  to  rescue  her.  So  he  joined 
with  Ja'son,  and  the  city  was  soon  captured. 
Alces'tis  was  rescued,  Pe'leus's  old  enemy  was 
slain,  and  at  last  Ja'son  and  iE'son  had  their 
rights. 

What  became  of  the  latter  I  cannot  say  ;  but 
Ja'son  and  Mede'a  are  said  to  have  lived  happily 
in  Iorcos  for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  however,  Ja'son' s  fickle  fancy  rested  on 
Creit'sa,1  daughter  of  the  king  of  Cor'inth  ;  and 
he  startled  his  wife  one  day  by  saying  that  he 
was  going  to  divorce  her  and  wed  king  Cre'on's 
daughter,  Mede'a  concealed  her  feelings,  and 
somewhat  piqued  Ja'son  by  her  seeming  indiffer- 
ence ;  for  she  even  gave  her  husband  a  wedding 
gift  for  his  new  bride. 

The  foolish  Ja'son  suspected  nothing,  and 
bore  the  fair  Creii'sa,  as  Mede'a' s  gift,  a  robe 
and  crown  of  wondrous  beauty.     She  put  them 

1  Appendix,  Note  52. 


LIFE  AND  DEATH.  205 

on  ;  but  when  the  first  rays  of  sunlight  struck 
upon  them  they  glowed  an  instant  with  a  daz- 
zling light,  and  then  the  lovely  maiden  was' 
wrapped  in  a  sheet  of  inextinguishable  flame. 

Her  father  darted  to  the  rescue  and  lost  his 
life  ;  but  Ja'son,  to  whom  wisdom  came  at  last, 
recognized  Mede'a's  handiwork,  and  knew  all 
human  aid  was  useless.  For  Mede'a's  grand- 
father, the  Sun-god  He'lios,  fed  the  fires. 

King  Cre'on,  his  daughter,  and  his  palace, 
were  utterly  consumed ;  and  Ja'son,  dumb  with 
grief,  stood  gazing  on  the  smoking  ruins. 
Suddenly  he  heard  above  him,  in  the  air,  a 
mocking  laugh,  and,  looking  up,  beheld  Mede'a 
in  her  serpent-chariot.  Her  hands  and  garments 
were  stained  with  blood,  and  as  she  passed  — 
oh,  horror  !  —  she  flung  down  to  him  the  lifeless 
bodies  of  their  two  sons.  Then,  with  another 
laugh  of  mingled  scorn  and  hatred,  she  sped 
away  to  Ath'ens  to  begin  again  a  life  of  love 
and  sorcery. 

Ja'son' s  heart  was  well-nigh  breaking.  He 
had  been  swiftly  and  terribly  punished.  And 
worst  of  all,  his  punishment  came  through  the 


206  JASON'S  QUEST. 

sufferings  of  others.  He  wandered  sadly  down 
to  the  shore,  where  the  old  Ar'go  lay,  and 
dreamed  again  the  fancies  of  his  youth,  when  he 
had  been  innocent  and  brave.  Alas  !  how  sad 
was  now  his  history  !  He  sighed  wearily,  and 
cried  aloud,  "  0  ye  gods,  have  mercy  on  me,  and 
take  my  worthless  life  !  "  He  then  waited,  as  if 
in  half  expectation  that  Zeus  would  send  a  pity- 
ing thunderbolt,  at  his  request,  to  free  him  from 
his  wretchedness.  But  the  heavens  were  dumb, 
and  only  the  light  plash  of  the  wavelets  broke 
the  silence  of  the  summer  afternoon. 

He  sat  down  beneath  the  Ar'go' s  prow,  and 
leaned  his  head  upon  his  hand.  He  mused, 
sorrowfully,  for  a  time,  and  while  musing  he 
fell  asleep. 

His  prayer  was  answered  then  ;  for  a  beam 
from  the  decaying  vessel  fell  upon  him  as  he 
lay  in  peaceful  slumber,  and  he  never  waked 
again. 

As  for  The  First  Ship  itself,  —  which,  after 
all,  is  perhaps  the  greatest  hero  of  our  tale, 
since  it  had  fewer  imperfections,  —  it  was  trans- 
lated  to    the   heavens  and  placed   among  the 


LIFE   AND  DEATH. 


207 


stars.  And  if  you  ever  sail  to  the  waters  of  the 
Southern  Hemisphere,  you  will  see  above  you, 
at  night,  among  the  other  constellations  of  the 
summer  sky,  ARGO  NAVIS,  which  is  no  other 
than  our  good  ship  Argo  gone  to  its  reward. 


APPENDIX. 


Note  1,  p.  11. 

Unde  graves  irse  cognata  in  moenia  Baccho, 
Quod  ssevae  Junonis  opus,  cui  sumpserit  arcum 
Infelix  Athamas,  cur  non  expaverit  ingens 
Ionium,  socio  casura  Palaemone  mater. 

Statius,  Thebaid,  i.  11. 

Atamante  divenne  tanto  insano 

Che  veggendo  la  moglie  co'  duo  figli 

Venir  carcata  di  ciascuna  mano, 
Grido:  Tendiam  le  reti,  si  ch'  io  pigli 

La  lionessa  e  i  lioncini  al  varco; 

E  poi  distese  i  dispietati  artigli 
Prendendo  l'un  die  avea  nome  Learco, 

E  rotollo,  e  percosselo  ad  un  sasso; 

E  quella  s'annego  con  l'altro  incarco. 

Dante,  Inferno,  xxx.  4. 

Athamas  grew  so  insane  that  he,  seeing  his  wife  with  the  two 
sons  come  laden  on  either  hand  cried:  "Spread  we  the  nets, 
that  I  may  take  the  lioness  and  her  young  lions  at  the  pass; " 
and  then  stretched  out  his  pitiless  talons,  grasping  the  one  that 
had  the  name  Learchus;  and  whirled  and  dashed  him  on  a  rock: 
and  she  with  her  other  burden  drowned  herself. 

Translated  by  Carlyle. 
See  Ovid,  Metam.  iv.  &lQff. 
208 


Note  2,  p.  14. 


Note  3,  p.  14. 


APPENDIX.  209 


Kiyovri  5'  iv  kcu  BaX&aoq. 

Mfrd  KdpaMTi  Nriprjo;  aAiai$  (Iiotov  aipQirov 

*\vol  rcrd^Bai  tov  iXov  a/xtpi  %p6vov. 

Pindar,  Olympian  Odes,  ii.  31. 


By  Leucothea's  lovely  hands 
And  her  son  that  rules  the  strands. 

Milton,  Comus,  line  875. 
Note  4,  p.  15. 

Annuit  oranti  Neptunus,  et  ahstulit  illis 
Quod  mortale  fuit;  maiestatemque  verendarn 
Imposuit,  nomenque  simul  faciemque  novavit: 
Leucothoeque  deum  cum  matre  Palaemona  dixit. 

Ovid,  Metam,  B.  iv.  539. 
Translated  by  Laurence  Eusden. 
Note  5,  p.  20. 

Kfivov  vr?  iX&ovtis  iitl  irpo^oas  ■Korajidlo 
Hiipyovs  eiadijiicrdi  KvTaiios  AirjTao 
"AAg6$  re  oKiduv  "Apio;,  rddt  (oSaj  fff'  aicptjs 
Ylmrdjitvov  <t>tiyoTo  Spaicwv,  repas  aivov  l&taQai, 
'Afi(pis  intTTTibci  SidoKTi/xivos  '    ov  hi  o\  Jjjiapt 
Oil  Kvbpag  rjiv/jios  virvo;  Avathia  <3d//i>arai  boat, 

Apodlonius  Khodius,  Argonautics,  ii.  404. 
Note  6,  p.  34. 

Vidi  et  crudeles  dantem  Salmonea  poenas, 
Dum  flammas  Jovis  et  sonitus  imitatur  Olympi. 
Quattuor  hie  invectus  equis,  et  lampada  quassans, 
Per  Graium  populos,  mediseque  per  Elidis  urbem 
Ibat  ovans,  Divumque  sibi  poscebat  honorem: 
Demens!  qui  nimbos,  et  non  iruitabile  fulmen 
iEre  et  cornipedum  cursu  simularet  equorum. 
At  pater  omnipotens  densa  inter  nubila  telum 
Contorsit  (non  ille  faces,  nee  fumea  taedis 
Luniina)  praecipitemque  immani  turbine  adegit. 

Vekgil,  Mneid,  vi.  586. 


210  APPENDIX. 

Note  6  a,  p.  35. 

Non  eadem  omnibus  [sunt]  honesta  atque  turpia,  sed  omnia 

majorum  institutis  [judicantur],  .  .  .  Neque  enim  Cimoni  fuit 

j.  turpe,  Atheniensium  summo  viro,  sororern  germanam  habere  in 

matrimonio,  quippe  cum  ejus  cives  eodem  uterentur  institute 

At  id  quidem  nostris  moribus  nefas  habetur. 

Nepos,  Prologue  to  the  "Lives." 

Note  7,  p.  37. 

The  scboliast  on  Pindar  says  that  the  name  given  to  Jason  by 
his  parents  was  Diomedes,  and  that  Chiron  first  called  him 
Jason. 

Note  8,  p.  40. 

*HXdc  Si  ol  kqvocv  miKtVu  fxivTtVfia  dvftS 
Hap  filoov  dfi^aXov  ibbivSpoio  pr}0iv  ixaripos' 
Tov  fiovoKpfjinha  tt6vtid;  iv  (pvXaicq  o^idi/iiv  /xeyuAq 
'EZt'  av  a'nrltv&v  drrd  aTadji&v  ij  tvSiUXov 
XQova  /j6\ti  kXht5s  'Iu>Xkov. 

Pindar,  Pythian  Odes,  iv.  73. 

Note  9,  p.  42. 

Anthon's  Smith's  Classical  Dictionary,  article  Delphi. 

Note  10,  p.  50. 

Kai  <5'  aXXio;  en  icai  irplv  ipol  fiya  (pilar'  'Vjacov 
'E|(5r'  int  npo^ofioiv  uAi;  nXi'/dovro;  'Avabpov 
'AfSpwv  ibvoplris  TreipiD/jivr)  avrifidXriaev 
©t'/pis  i^avtwv    vibrio  S'  iiraXbvlTO  Travra 
Ovpia  /cai  aKOTiaX  viptjj^Keii,  o\  Si  Kar'  avrSiv 
Xcifiappot  Kava%r)&a  Ki'XivSdixivoi  (popiovro. 
Tpvi  Si  fi'  ilaajtivnv  dXofpvparo,  ica't  ^'  dvaeipas 
Avrb;  ioTg  ibfioiai  Siik  npouXis  (fitptv  vSiap. 
T<3  vb  fioi  aXXriKTov  TripiTlerai  ' 

Apollonius  Rhodius,  Argonautics,  iii.  66. 


APPENDIX.  211 

Quelli  e  Jason,  che  per  cuore  e  per  senno 
Li  Colchi  del  inonton  privati  fene. 

Jason  is  he,  whose  skill  and  prowess  won 
The  ram  from  Colchos. 

Dante's  Inferno,  xviii.  86. 
Translated  by  Gary. 
Note  11,  p.  52. 

And  now  he  shakes  his  great  paternal  spear, 
Ponderous  and  huge !  which  not  a  Greek  could  rear. 
From  Pelion's  cloudy  top  an  ash  entire 
Old  Chiron  felled,  and  shaped  it  for  his  sire; 
A  spear  which  stern  Achilles  only  wields, 
The  death  of  heroes  and  the  dread  of  fields ! 

Pope's  Homer's  Iliad,  xix.  420. 
Note  12,  p.  61. 

I6v&e  iitv,  ol6nif>  ovvik'  atf  'ElA6Sos  S1XX01  ayfpdcv 
KAeioua'  Aioovos  o'ibv  'it'/aova  KprjdiiSao. 

fij  5i  Kal  wXZoi  rr/fj/rff,  baoi  avvinovTai  eraipoi, 
'Adavarwv  vies  Ti  tot  vluivoi  yiydaoiv, 

Apollonius  Rhodius,  Argonautics,  ill.  356. 

Note  13,  p.  65. 

Pindar  says  (Pyth.  iv.  165)  that  Pelias  frankly  proposed  to 
Jason  that  if  he  would  fetch  the  Golden  Fleece  he  would  give  him 
the  kingdom  without  more  ado.  Diodorus  Siculus  says  (iv.  40), 
that  Jason  asked  permission  of  Pelias  to  go  upon  his  quest. 
Pelias  granted  the  request,  hoping  his  nephew  would  perish  in 
the  attempt. 

Note  14,  p.  72. 

At  cantu  commota?  Erebi  de  sedibus  imis 
Umbrse  ibant  tenues,  simulacraque  luce  carentum: 
Quam  multa  in  sylvis  avium  se  millia  condunt 
Vesper  ubi,  aut  hybernus  agit  de  montibus  imber 


212  APPENDIX. 

Quin  ipsse  stupuere  domus,  atque  intima  leti 
Tartara,  cseruleosque  implexse  crinibus  angues 
Eumenides;  tenuitque  inhians  tria  Cerberus  ora; 
Atque  Ixionii  cantu  rota  constitit  orbis. 

Vergil,  Georgics,  iv.  471. 
Translated  by  Davidson. 
Note  15,  p.  74. 

The  spouseless  Adriatic  mourns  her  lord ; 
And,  annual  marriage  now  no  more  renewed, 
The  Bucentaur  lies  rotting  unrestored, 
Neglected  garment  of  her  widowhood ! 

Byron,  Childe  Harold,  Canto  iv.  St.  xi. 

Note  16,  p.  74. 

So  Apollonius  Rhodius  in  Argonautics,  i.  526. 

'Ev  ydp  ol  86pv  6uov  cXrjXaro,  t6  pp"  ava  niaarjv 
"Sirtipav  'Adtivair;  AO)Sd)viSos  fipftoue  tprjyov. 

The  keel  of  sacred  oak 
Endued  with  voice,  and  marvellously  wrought, 
Itonian  Pallas  from  Dodona  brought. 

Translated  by  Fawkes. 

Note  17,  p.  75. 

Diodorus  Siculus  says  that  some  derived  the  name  from  the 
architect,  and  some  from  the  swiftness  of  the  Argo. 

Trjv  Si  vavv  'Apyu)  irposayopcvdrjvai  Kara  p{v  riva;  ruiv  /ivdoyoaipojv  &tt6  tov  to 
CK&<bos  apxiTCKTovrjaavTos  'Apyov  icai  cvfi-xXtbaavTot  cvexa  tov  depairiiieiv  aci  ra 
trovovvTa  fiipr/  rfi;  vfcij,  u>j  5'  ivioi  Xiyovcriv,  airb  Trj;  irepl  to  Ta%o;  VTrepfloXris,  u>s 
civ  rav  apyaiuv  apybv  to  tolyv  nposayopevSvruiv. 

Biblioth.  Hist.  iv.  41,  3. 

Note  18,  p.  77. 

This  is  the  account  most  generally  received.  The  description 
given  by  Apollonius  (Argonautics,  i.  3S6JT-),  on  the  other  hand, 
is  quite  consistent  with  Longfellow's  picture. 


APPENDIX.  213 

Note  19,  p.  82. 

AiiTap  rdvy'  evlirouaiv  drfip/a;  ovpfoi  ir/rpaj 
©f  A£«i  aoiiaiov  IvoTry  Troraniav  re  pitdpa. 
$r}yol  (5'  aypid&eg,  Kiivrji  cri  a/j/xara  iioXirrjs, 
'Akttjs  Qprjuciris  Ziivrjs  em  TrjXeQdiaaai 
*E£fci7$  trrij(6maiv  inijTpiiioi,  us  by'  tiwtpb 
QtXyofxivas  <p6pmyyi  Karrjyaye  lliepirjdev. 

Apollonius  Khodius,  Argonautics,  i.  26. 

Note  20,  p.  86. 

"  It  is  said  that  he  took  the  part  of  Juno  against  Jupiter,  and 
Jupiter  hurled  him  out  of  heaven.    lie  was  three  days  in  falling, 
and  at  last  was  picked  up  half  dead,  and  with  one  leg  broken, 
by  the  fishermen  of  the  island  of  Lemnos."  — 
Brewer's  Diet,  of  Phrase  and  Fable,  Article  "  Mulciber." 

"Hephaestus  was  nine  days  falling  from  Olympus  to  the 
earth,  where  he  at  length  alighted  on  the  island  of  Lemnos."  — 
Berens's  Myths  and  Legends  of  Ancient  Greece  and  Rome, 
p.  98. 

Both  these  accounts  are  contrary  to  Homer  (Iliad,  p.  592). 

Xlav  8'  fifiap  ipcpdftriv,  afta  <5'  rjeXit^  KaraiivTi 
Kairrreoov  iv  Aijuvip. 

All  day  I  fell,  and  at  sunset  I  lighted  upon  Lemnos;  and 
Milton,  to  whom  Brewer  refers,  relates  the  myth  as  follows  :  — 

How  he  fell 
From  Heaven  they  fabled ;  thrown  by  angry  Jove 
Sheer  o'er  the  crystal  battlements.     From  morn 
To  noon  he  fell,  from  noon  to  dewy  eve, 
A  summer's  day;  and  with  the  setting  sun 
Dropped  from  the  zenith  like  a  falling  star 
On  Lemnos,  th'  iEgean  isle. 

Paradise  Lost,  i.  740. 


214  APPENDIX. 

It  would  seem  as  if  Berens  had  confounded  Mulciber  (He- 
phaestos   or  Yulcan)  with   Lucifer  (Satan);  for  in   "Paradise 
Lost,"  i.  50,  Milton  says  of  the  latter  :  — 
R         Nine  times  the  space  that  measures  day  and  night 

To  mortal  men,  he  with  his  horrid  crew 

Lay  vanquished,  rolling  in  the  fiery  gulf, 

Confounded  though  immortal. 
But  it  will  be  observed  that  of  the  time  consumed  by  Satan's 
fall  Milton  says  nothing,  although  the  arch-fiend  dropped  a 
goodly  distance  —  "from  th'  ethereal  sky  ...  to  bottomless  per- 
dition;" —  the  period  of  nine  days  is  the  time  during  which  he 
"  lay  confounded  "  after  the  catastrophe. 

Note  21,  p.  87. 

Pindar,  however,  says  they  went  to  Lemnos  after  they  had 
captured  the  Fleece.     Pyth.,  iv.  251. 

Note  22,  p.  90. 

'Y/uv  fiev  ifi  tioTpa  QeZv  xpcui  re  -rriprjoat 
'Evdd&i  KcDaj  Syovras '   anetptatoi  6'  ivi  fitoay 
Ktial  rt  Seiipd  r'  laaiv  avepvojxivoiaiv  atQloi. 

Apollonius  Rhodius,  Argonautics,  i.  440. 
Note  23,  p.  91. 

Pontus  Euxinus,  or  The  Hospitable  Sea,  was  originally  Pontus 
Axenos ;  i.e.,  The  Inhospitable  Sea  (Diodorus  Siculus,  iv. 
40,  4.  Pindar  calls  it  Axeinos  in  Pyth.  iv.  361);  but  after  civ- 
ilized colonies  had  settled  on  its  shores,  the  old  name  was 
changed  to  a  more  euphonious  one. 

Note  24,  p.  91. 

Apollonius  says  that  before  they  set  sail,  and  while  most  of 
the  crew  had  gone  up  on  the  mountain  to  see  the  outlook,  the 
giants  tried  to  block  up  the  channel  with  huge  stones;  but  that 
Hercules,  who  had  remained  at  the  ship,  bent  his  bow  against 
them  and  slew  several.  Just  then  the  chiefs,  returning,  put  the 
rest  to  flight. 


APPENDIX.  215 

Note  25,  p.  99. 

Avrap  o  nXayei; 
Yirnof  iv  (pbZlotcn  TtdaZociv  l^iravbadr]. 
Evda  pa^n  Spifieia  naXiv  yivtr'  ipQuiBivro;  ' 
'AlXrilovi  5'  oAtnov  oTlpioTs  OiivovTi;  'tftaaiv. 

Theockitus,  Idyl  xxii.,  I.  105. 

Note  26,  p.  101. 

According  to  Apollonius,  Polydeuces  used  Amycus's  cestus, 
choosing  the  pair  that  lay  nearest  him. 

Note  27,  p.  101. 

This  victor,  glorious  in  his  olive  wreath, 

Had  once  eyes,  eye-brows,  nose,  and  ears,  and  teeth; 

But  turning  cestus-champion,  to  his  cost, 

These  and,  still  worse !  his  heritage  he  lost. 

Lucilius  in  Greek  Anthology. 
Translated  by  Fawkes. 

Note  28,  p.  106. 

Keightley's  Mythology,  ed.  1831,  p.  422.  Theocritus  (Idyl 
xxii.)  inverts  this  account,  and  says  :  "Even  already  had  Argo 
fled  forth  from  the  Clashing  Rocks,  and  the  dread  jaws  of  snowy 
Pontus,  and  was  come  to  the  land  of  the  Bebryces."  (Lang's 
Translation.)  He  then  goes  on  to  give  the  contest  between 
Amycus  and  Polydeuces,  already  recorded. 

Note  29,  p.  106. 

"  Other  accounts  say  that  he  was  deprived  of  sight  for  having 
revealed  to  mortals  the  future,  which  was  shown  him  by  Apollo; 
or  that  Poseidon  had  so  punished  him  for  having  shown  the 
sons  of  Phrixus  the  way  to  Greece.  It  is  even  said  that  the 
Argonauts  so  avenged  the  blinding  of  his  children." — Keight- 
ley's Myth.,  p.  422.     Also  see  the  preface  to  this  book,  p.  viii. 


216  APPENDIX. 

Note  30,  p.  110. 

'Apyw, 
"Art;  Kvavcav  ov%  ruparo  avvipojt&btov  vav;, 
'AXXa  Stt^i'i^f,  0a6i)v  <5'  iloibgafit  $a<riv, 
Altrd;  u>s  v-iya-  XaiTfia,  a<p'  S>  t6tc  ^oipdiSff  larav. 

Theocritus,  Idyl  xiii.,  I.  21. 
Note  31,  p.  112. 

Apollonius  says  he  was  incurable. 

Note  32,  p.  115.    Pope's  Homek's  Odyssey,  xii.  71  jF. 

Note  33,  p.  115. 

Apollonius  says  it  was  Euphemus ;  but  as  Mopsus  was  a  sooth- 
sayer and  understood  bird-language  (see  Seeman's  Mythology, 
p.  299)  I  have  ventured  to  make  an  innovation. 

Note  34,  p.  115. 

Mopsus  was  really  a  Thessalian.  The  Boeotians  were  said  to 
be  more  stupid  than  the  other  Greeks,  hence  the  term  "  Boeotian  " 
became  one  of  reproach. 

Note  35,  p.  119. 

Ilo^a  /ura|i  iriXn  KbXiKu;  xal  ^tiXeos  axpov. 

"  There's  many  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip." 
Note  36,  p.  122. 

'Ej  <I>5<nv  6'  'i-mirev 
"hXvOov,  ItvQa  KtXaivii)ixtaai  KdX^oiaiv  0tav 
Ml^av,  At>?T<f  Trap'  airy. 

Pindar,  Pyth.,  iv.  211. 
Note  37,  p.  130. 

Tate  and  Stonestreet's  translation  of  the  following  passage:  — 

Quern,  nisi  crudelem,  non  tangat  Iiisonis  setas, 
Et  genus,  et  virtus  ?  quem  non,  ut  caetera  desint, 
Forma  movere  potest  ?  certe  mea  pectora  movit. 
At,  nisi  opem  tulero,  taurorum  afflabitur  ore: 


APPENDIX.  217 

Concurretque  suae  segetis  tellure  creatis 
Hostibus:  aut  avido  dabitur  fera  prseda  draconi. 
Hoc  ego  si  patiar,  turn  me  de  tigride  natam, 
Turn  ferrum  et  scopulos  gestare  in  corde  fatebor. 
Cur  non  et  specto  pereuntem  ?  oculosque  videndo 
Conscelero  ?  .  .  . 

Di  meliora  velint:  quamquam  non  ista  precanda 
Sed  facienda  mini.  .  .  . 

.  .  .  accingere;  et  omnem 
Pelle  moram !  Tibi  se  semper  debebit  Iason, 
Te  face  solenni  junget  sibi ;  perque  Pelasgas 
Servatrix  urbes  matrum  celebrabere  turba. 

Ovid,  Metam.,  vii.  26. 
Note  38,  p.  133. 

npwro^uff  Toy' iv(a^iy  Karaard^avTos  tpa^e 
Aictov  <l>/t?70Tf  W  Kvrjjxoli  cvi  KaVKaaioiatv 
Al/iaTdivT'  ly&pa  JlpojxriOrjos  ftoyepow. 
ToE  8'  ijtoi  avOo;  [iiv  bo~ov  -ni'i^viov  dmpOcv 
Xpo(|j"  Kwpi'Ki'cj)  ikiZov  KpoKty  i^itpaavdrj, 
KauJowiv  ii&bnoiaiv  eirfjopov  '  r)  8'  tvi  yai]) 
2ap<ci  vtOT/xrjTU)  ivuAiyicir]  'iirXiro  pi^a. 

Apollonius  Ehodius,  Argonautics,  iii.  850. 

Note  39,  p.  134. 

Hesiod  gives  tbe  story  at  length  in  bis  Theogony,  line  523  ff. 
He  thus  describes  Prometheus' s  punishment:  — 

Kat  o'i  iir'  ulerdv  £>pai  Tavbirnpov '   airap  Sy'  rjitap 
"HoBitv  aBAvarov  ■  rd  b"  a  i^iro  laov  airdvn; 
Nu/crdf,  oaov  npdirav  ^/Jap  c8oi  Tavvo-'mTtpos  Spvi;. 
Tov  filv  op'  ' AJ.Kiir}vr;s  KaXXiatpbpov  aXKijioq  vlb; 
'KpaxXirj;  cktcivc,  kglktiv  8'  airo  votiaov  JLAalicev 
'XairerioviSrj,  ical  eXbaaro  8vo<j>poo-vv6(ov. 

Down  he  sent  from  high 
The  broad-winged  Eagle :  she  his  liver  gorged 
Immortal;  for  it  sprang  with  life,  and  grew 
In  the  night  season,  and  the  waste  repair'd 


218  APPENDIX. 

Of  what  by  day  the  bird  of  spreading  wing 
Devoured.     But  fair  Alcmena's  valiant  son 
The  torturer  slew,  and  from  Prometheus  drove 
The  cruel  plague,  and  freed  him  from  his  pangs. 

Translated  by  Elton. 
Note  40,  p.  141. 

Inde  (fide  maius)  glebae  coepere  moveri: 
Primaque  de  sulcis  acies  apparuit  hastae. 
Tegmina  mox  capitum  picto  nutantia  cono: 
Mox  umeri  pectusque,  onerataque  bracchia  telis 
Existunt:  crescitque  seges  clipeata  virorum. 

Ovid,  Metam.,  iii.  106. 

The  clods  grow  warm  and  crumble  where  he  sows, 
And  now  the  pointed  spears  advance  in. rows: 
Now  nodding  plumes  appear,  and  shining  crests; 
Now  the  broad  shoulders  and  the  rising  breasts; 
O'er  all  the  field  the  breathing  harvest  swarms, 
A  growing  host,  —  a  crop  of  men  in  arms. 

Translated  by  Addison. 
Note  41,  p.  144. 

Ille  gravem  medios  silicem  iaculatus  in  hostes, 
A  se  depulsum  Martem  convertit  in  ipsos. 
Terrigense  pereunt  per  mutua  vulnera  fratres, 
Civilique  cadunt  acie. 

Ovid,  Metam.,  vii.  139. 

Note  42,  p.  147.     Ovid,  Metam.,  B.  xi.  1-66,     Veeoiz,  Georgics, 
iv.  521. 

Note  43,  p.  153. 

"  Somne  omnipotens,  te  Colchis  ab  omni 
Orbe  voco,  inque  unum  iubeo  nunc  ire  draconem, 
Quae  freta  saepe  tuo  domui,  quae  nubila  cornu 
Fulminaque  et  toto  quidquid  micat  aethere;  sed  nunc 


APPENDIX.  219 

Nunc  age  maior  ades  fratrique  simillime  Leto. 
Te  quoque,  Phrixese  pecudis  fidissinie  custos, 
Tempus  ab  hac  oculos  tandem  deflectere  cura. 
Quem  metius  me  astante  dolum  ?  servabo  parumper 
Ipsa  nemus;  longum  interea  tu  pone  laborem." 
Ille  baud  iEolio  discedere  fessus  ab  auro, 
Nee  dare  permissae  (quamvis  iuvet)  ora  quieti 
Sustinet;  ac  primi  percussus  nube  soporis 
Horruit,  et  dulces  excussit  ab  arbore  somnos. 
Contra  Tartareis  Colcbis  spumare  venenis, 
Cunctaque  Lethsei  quassare  silentia  rami 
Perstat,  et  adverso  luctantia  lumina  cantu 
Obruit,  atque  omnem  linguaque  manuqne  fatigat 
Vim  Stygiam ;  ardentes  donee  sopor  occupet  iras. 

Valekius  Flaccus,  Argonautica,  viii.  70-87. 
Translated  by  Elton. 
Note  44,  p.  155. 

Apollonius  says  Absyrtus  was  older  than  Medea  ;  that  he 
pursued  Medea  and  the  Argonauts;  and  that  Jason  himself  slew 
him,  having  laid  an  ambush  for  him  by  Medea's  aid. 

Note  44  a,  p.  164. 

Dryden's  translation  of  the  following  passage:  — 

Picus,  equum  domitor;  quem  capta  cupidine  conjux 
Aurea  percussum  virga,  versumque  venenis, 
Fecit  avem  Circe,  sparsitque  coloribus  alas. 

Vergil,  ^Eneid,  vii.  189. 

Ovid,  in  his  "Metamorphoses,"  xiv.  320,  gives  a  somewhat 
extended  account  of  Circe's  love  and  Picus' s  transformation. 

Note  44  b,  p.  166. 

Proxima  Circaeae  raduntur  litora  terrae ; 
Dives  inaccessos  ubi  Solis  filia  lucos 
Assiduo  resonat  cantu  .  .  . 


220  APPENDIX. 

Hinc  exaudiri  gemitus,  iraeque  leonum 
Vincla  recusantum  et  sera  sub  nocte  rudentum, 
Setigerique  sues  atque  in  praesepibus  ursi 
Ssevire,  ac  formae  magnorum  ululare  luporum, 
Quos  hominum  ex  facie  dea  sseva  potentibus  herbis 
Induerat  Circe  in  voltus  ac  terga  ferarum. 

Vergil,  ^neid,  vii.  10-20. 

"First  tbey  skirt  tbe  shores  of  Circe's  land,  where  the  rich 
daughter  of  the  Sun  makes  her  groves  resound  with  constant 
song.  .  .  .  From  here  come  to  their  ears  the  angry  growling 
of  lions,  raging  against  their  chains  and  roaring  at  the  dead  of 
night;  bristly  boars,  too,  and  caged  bears  voice  their  rage,  and 
shapes  of  huge  wolves  fiercely  howl.  These  the  cruel  goddess 
Circe  had  changed  by  magic  herbs  from  the  mien  of  men  to 
beasts  in  looks  and  form." 

Translated  by  Collar,  in  "School  Classics." 

Note  45,  p.  170. 

Some  authors  represent  them  as  human  only  to  the  waist, 
while  the  rest  of  their  bodies  were  those  of  birds.  Some  say 
there  were  but  two. 

Note  46,  p.  174.     Odyssey,  B.  xii.  107  (Pope). 
Note  47,  p.  183.     Odyssey,  B.  xii.  125  (Pope). 

Note  48,  p.  184. 

Dextrum  Scylla  latus,  lsevum  implacata  Charybdis 
Obsidet :  atque  imo  barathri  ter  gurgite  vastos 
Sorbet  in  abruptum  fluctus,  rursusque  sub  auras 
Erigit  alternos,  et  sidera  verberat  unda. 

Vergil,  JEneid,  iii.  420. 
Note  49,  p.  190. 

The  account  given  by  Apollonius  is  less  dramatic  and  proba- 
bly not  more  truthful. 


APPENDIX. 


221 


Note  50,  p.  192. 

Tofif  nolXovs  iniTeXXe  \iiya<;  ffauiXiV';  (nrtptjvuip, 
'Y0ptsrris  TleXirji,  Kill  araaOaXo;,  <J|3pi^ofpy<Sf. 
Toils  reXiaa;  fj  'IwXkov  atyiKiTo,  iroXAa  fioyijaas 
A'kjovHtjs. 

Hesiod,  Theogony,  995. 
Note  51,  p.  198. 

Barba  comaequae 
Canitie  posita  nigrum  rapuere  colorem 
Pulsa  fugit  macies,  abeunt  pallorque  situsque, 
Adiectoque  cavae  supplentur  oorpore  rugae, 
Membraque  luxuriant.  Aeson  miratur  et  olim 
Ante  quater  denos  bunc  se  reminiscitur  annos. 

Ovid,  Metam.,  vii.  288. 
Note  52,  p.  204. 

Euripides  calls  ber  Glauke. 


BURMANN'S  CATALOGUE  OF  THE  ARGONAUTS. 
collected  from  all  the  ancient  writers. 


1.  Acas'tus. 

2.  Ac'tor. 

3.  Actor'ides. 

4.  Acto'rion. 

5.  Adme'tus. 

6.  ^Etbal'ides. 

7.  Alme'nus. 

8.  Amphiara'us. 
Ampbid'araas. 
Ampbi'on. 
Amponi'tus. 
Ancse'us. 

13.  Ancse'us  2d. 

14.  Ancbis'teus. 

15.  Are'ius. 

16.  Ar'gus. 

17.  Ar'gus  2d. 


10. 
11. 
12. 


18.  Arme'nius. 

19.  Ascal'apbus. 

20.  Askle'pios. 

21.  Aste'rion. 

22.  Aste'rius. 

23.  Atalan'ta. 

24.  Auge'as. 

25.  Autol'ycus. 

26.  Azo'rus. 

27.  Bu'pbagus. 

28.  Bu'tes. 

29.  Cae'neus. 

30.  Cal'ais. 

31.  Can'tbus. 

32.  Cas'tor. 

33.  Ce'pbeus. 

34.  Ci'us. 


222 


APPENDIX. 


35. 

Clym'enus. 

68. 

Me'las. 

36. 

Cly'tius. 

69. 

Melea'ger. 

37. 

Coro'nus. 

70. 

Mence'tius. 

38. 

Cylin'drus. 

71. 

Mop'sus. 

39. 

Deil'eon. 

72. 

Nau'plius. 

40. 

Deuca'lion. 

73. 

Ne'leus. 

41. 

Echi'on. 

74. 

Nes'tor. 

42. 

Ergi'nns. 

75. 

Oi'leus. 

43. 

Eribo'tes. 

76. 

Or'pheus. 

44. 

Eume'don. 

77. 

Palse'mon. 

45. 

Euphe'mus. 

78. 

Pe'leiis. 

46. 

Eury'alus. 

79. 

Pene'leiis. 

47. 

Euryd'amas. 

80. 

Periclym'enus. 

48. 

Euryt'ion. 

81. 

Phale'rus. 

49. 

Eu'rytus. 

82. 

Pba'nus. 

50. 

Glau'cus. 

83. 

Philam'mon. 

51. 

Her'acles. 

84. 

Philocte'tes. 

52. 

Hippal'cimus. 

85. 

Phle'ias  (Phli'as 

53. 

Hy'las. 

86. 

Phlo'gius. 

54. 

I'das. 

87. 

Pho'cus. 

55. 

Id'mon. 

88. 

Phron'tis. 

56. 

Iola'us. 

89. 

Pirith'oiis. 

57. 

Iph'iclus. 

90. 

Pce'as. 

58. 

Iph'iclus  2d. 

91. 

Polydeu'ces. 

Iphid'amas  (probably 

92. 

Polypbe'mus. 

a     corruption    for 

93. 

Pria'sus. 

Amphid'amas). 

94. 

Staph'ylus. 

59. 

Iph'itus. 

95. 

Tal'aus. 

60. 

I'phys  (Iphis). 

96. 

Tel'amon. 

61. 

Ixit'ion. 

97. 

Ther'sanon. 

62. 

Ja'son. 

98. 

The'seus. 

63. 

Laer'tes, 

99. 

Thes'salus. 

64. 

Laoc'oon. 

100. 

Thes'tor. 

65. 

Le'itus. 

101. 

Ti'phys. 

66. 

Leod'ocus. 

102. 

Ty'deus. 

67. 

Lyn'ceus. 

103. 

Ze'tes. 

PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


[In  this  Index,  "  Table  "  refers  to  the  genealogical  Table  facing  page  1. 

"  Notes  "  refer  to  the  Appendix.    Figures  not  otherwise 

specified,  refer  to  pages.] 


Abraham,  8. 

Absyrtus  [ab-sir'-ttts],  Table,  148,  151, 

155,  156,  168,  197.     Note,  44. 
Acastus  [a-kas'-ttis] ,  69,  203,  204. 
Achilles  [a-kil'-leez],  52. 
Adam,  199. 
Ad-me'-tus,  78,  203. 
Adriatic  [a-drf-St'-ik],  74. 
Adyton  [ad'-i-t8n],  44. 
Ma.  [e'-alil,  21,  41,  124,  134, 154,  165. 
_Eaea  [e-e'-ahj,  103,  165. 
JEeta.  [e-e'-tah],20. 
^Eetes  [G-e'-teez],  Table,  21,  22,  23,  24, 

26,  27,  28,  66,  122,  126,  128,  131,  137, 

146,  155,  156,  157,  163. 
iEgean  Sea  [e-jee'-2n],  17,  86. 
^Egeus  [e'-juse],  17,  77. 
iEgina  [e-jl'-nali],  191. 
iEgletes_[e-glee'-teez],  191. 
^Enoas  [e-nee'-3s],  52. 
^Eolid;e  [e-51'-i-dee],  48. 
^Eolus  [e'-o-lu-],  Table,  4. 
JEsculapius  [Bs-kew-lay'-pee-Hs].    See 

ASKLKPIOS. 

Mson  [e'-^uii],  Table,  36,  37,  40,  54,  62, 
194,  198,  199,  204. 

iEsonides  [e-s5n'-I-deez],  192. 

Africa.    See  Libya. 

Aglaopheme  [ag-Iay-o-fee'-me]  (Clear- 
voice),  109. 

Alcestis  [al-sess'-tiss],  202,  203,  204. 

Alcidice  [al-sid'-I-see],  Table,  31. 

Alcimede  [al-sim'-ee-dee],  Table,  36, 
38,  40,  54,  194. 

Alcinoiis  [al-sni'-o-Ss],  136,  187. 

Alpheus  [al-fee'-tts]  31,  32. 

Altar,  9,  32. 

Amphitrite  [am-fy-try'  te],  185. 

Amycus  [5m'-me-kHss],  95,  97  ff. 

Amythaon  [5m-me-tha'-5n],  35. 

Anachronisms   [5n-3k'-ro-nIsms],  67. 


Anaphe,  or  Anaphi  [Sn'-a-fee,  or  5n'- 

a-fie],  191. 
Anauros  [an-naw'-r5s],  56jf,  57. 
Ancams  [an-see'-Hs],  119. 
Animals  on  Circe's  Isle,  166. 
Antaeus  [3n-tee'-Qs],  78. 
Aphetae  [af'-e-tee],  86. 
Aphrodite    [af-roe-die'-t8h]    (Venus), 

14,  69,  87,  176. 
Apollo,  42,  43,  46,  52,  6S,  70,  175,  191. 
Apollodorus  [3p-pol-lo-do'-riis],  160. 
Apollonius  Khodius  [ap-p51-lo'-nee-Hs 

ro'-dee-us],  20,  50,  61,  82,  90,  133; 

Notes  16,  18,31,33. 
Archipelago  [ar-ke-p61'-lay-go],  17. 
Arctic  [ark'-tik],  explorers,  158. 
Ares  [a'-reez]  (Mars),  29,  120,  123,  131, 

136,  150,  155. 
Arete  [a-ree'-tee],  188. 
Aretias  [a-ree'-she-as],  120. 
Argo,  2,  foot-note  2,  66,  75,  77,  Note 

18,  84,  118,  161,  188,  195,  206.    See 

also  Argonauts. 
Argonauts  [ar'-go-nawtz],  67-69, 85, 86, 

Note  21.  88,  90,  91,  92,  Note  24,  93, 

94,  95,  97,   100,   104,   106,  Note  28, 

107,  113,  117,  118,  120,  122,  124,  125, 

126,  136,  147,  155,  156,  157,  158,  159, 

160,  161,  162,  163,  169,  171,  176,  177, 

186,  187,   188,  190,   191.    (See  also 

Burmann's  Catalogue. 
Argo  Navis,  207. 

Argos  (Greek  form  for  Argus),  75. 
Argus,  66,  75,   80,  81.    (2)   Tsble,  66, 

122,  123,  124,  125.     (3)  66. 
Ark.    See  Noah. 

Artemis  [ar'-tee-mlss]  (Diana),  7,  70. 
Asia,  Table. 
Asklepios    [5ss-klee'-pe-8s]   (^Escula- 

pius),  52,  68,  108, 112. 
Atalan'ta,  69. 


223 


224 


PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


Ath'amas,  Table,  4,  5,  6,  8,  13,  14,  30, 

35,  41. 
Athena  [3th-ee'-nah]  (Minerva),  21. 
Athens,  193,  205. 
Balloons,  18. 
Bears'' Hill  giants,  91. 
Bebrycia  [b6h-brish'-e-ah]  (Bithynia), 

95. 
Bebrycians  [bSh-brish'-e-anz],  104. 
Berens,  Note  20. 

Bible  references,  1,  8,  79,  167,  199. 
Birds,  Stymphalian,  120. 
Bithynia  [bi-thln'-i-ah]  (Bebrycia),  91, 

95. 
Boar,  wild,  118,  120. 
Boat,  golden,  of  Helios,  128. 
Boats,  ancient,  05. 
Boeotia  [bee-o'-she-ah],  41. 
"Boeotian"    [bee-o'-she-an],  115,  Note 

34. 
Boreas  [bo'-ree-Sss]  (North  Wind),  106. 
Bosporus  [boss'-po-rtis],  105. 
Boxing  match,  98^". 
Brazen  bridge,  32. 
Brazen  bulls,  131,  137jf. 
Brewer,  Note  20. 

Bryant's  idea  of  the  Argo,  2  foot-note. 
Bucentaur  [bew-sgn'-tor],  74. 
Building  of  the  first  ship,  05. 
Bulls,  brazen,  21,  131,  13s. 
Burmann's  Catalogue,  221. 
Burns,  73. 

Butes  [bew'-teez],  09,  172,  176. 
Byron,  Note  15. 
Cabiri  [kS-by'-n],  105. 
Cadmian  dragon's  teeth,  21,  141. 
Cadmus  [kad'-muss],  21,  20,  144. 
Cselus  [see'-lHs].    See  Uranus. 
Casneus  [see'-nuse],  68. 
Calais  [kal'-a-iss],  and  Zetes,  09,  107, 

112. 
California,  Gulf  of,  159. 
Calliope  [kal-li'-o-pee],  70,  175,  177. 
Campbell  [kam'-bSl,  orkam-Bl],  193. 
Cas'tor  and  Polydeuces  (Pollux),  09, 

90,  105,  203. 
Catalogue  of  the  Argonauts,  221. 
Caucasian  [kaw-kash'-Hn]  Mts.,  133. 
Caucasus  [kaw'-kas-sBs],  Mt.,  132, 133. 
Centaurs  [sSn'-t5rz],  50,  51. 
Centre  of  earth,  42. 
Cerberus  [sir'-bee-riis],  71,  124. 
Ceres  [see'-reez].     See  Demeter. 
Cestus,  101. 
Chalciope    [kal-si'-o-pee],   Table,    24, 

28. 
Chaos  [kay'-oss],  Table,  5. 


Charybdis  [ka-rlb'-dTss],  181, 182,  183, 

184,  185. 
Chiron  [ki'-r5n],  39,  51, 52,  53,54,  55, 08. 
Chrysomallus  [kriss-o-mal'-ltts],  3,  10, 

11, 12, 22, 23,  25, 27, 29.  See  Golden 

Fleece. 
Cimmerian  [sim-mee'-rl-an],  deserts, 

102. 
Circe  [sir'-see],  Table,  4,  159,  103,  104, 

105,  166,  168,  170,  178#. 
Clashing  Islands  or  Rocks,  107, 114, 118. 
Clear-voice,  a  Siren,  169. 
Cloud,  Nephele  1st  and  2d,  9,  18,  51. 
Clymene  [klim'-Bh-nee].     See  Asia. 
Clytius  [klTsh'-e-fis],  68,  92. 
Colchians  I  kol'-ke-anz],  187,  188. 
Colchis  [kol'-kiss],  22,  41,  65,  66,  91, 

124,  105. 
Cologne  [k51-lone'],168. 
Columbus,  67. 
Compass,  mariner's,  74. 
Corcyra  fkor-sy'-rah],  (Corfu),  187, 188. 
Corfu  [kor'-few].    See  Corcyra. 
Cor'inth,  30,  195,  204. 
Corn,  Seed,  5. 

Corycian  [ko-rlsh'-e-an],  133. 
Cow'ford,  105. 
Crawford,  Earl  of,  154. 
Creon  [kree'-on],  204,  205. 
Crete  [kreet],  136,  189. 
Cretheus  [kree'-thuse],  Table,  14,  35. 
Creusa  [kree-you'-sah],  Table,  204,205J 
Crcesus  [kree'-stiss] ,  45. 
Cronos  [kro'-n5s],  Table. 
Crumissa  [kru-mis'-sah],  25. 
Cyaneae      Symplegades      [sT-a'-nee-ee 

sim-pl8g'-a-deez],  107.  See  Clash- 
ing Islands. 
Cybele  [sib'-ee-lee],  93. 
Cyrus  [si'-rHs],  45. 
Cyzicus  [sTz-zi'-kiiss],  91,  93. 
DANAUS  [dan'-a-Hs],  2. 
Dante  [dan'-ta],  Notes  1  and  10. 
Dardanelles     [dar-da-DSlz']     (Helles- 
pont), 18. 
Dashers,  Dark  Blue,  107,  113,  116,  189. 

See  Clashing  Islands. 
Daughters  of  Zeus  (The  Nine  Muses), 

176. 
David  and  Goliath,  98. 
Delphi  [dgl'-fl],  42,  43,  47,  48. 
Demeter  [dee-mee'-terj  (Ceres),  7,  176. 
Deucalion  [dew-kay'-le-on],  Table. 
Diana  [di-a'-nah].    See  Artemis, 
Diodorus    Siculus     [di-o-do'-rQs    slk'. 

you-lHs],  Notes  13, 17,23.    Preface, 

p.  viii. 


PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


225 


Diomedes  [di-o-mee'-deez],  Note  7. 
Dioscuri   [di-Sss-kew'-ri]    (Castor  and 

Polydeuces),  203. 
Divine  Principle,  Table. 
Dodona  [do -do '-nan],  74. 
Dog,  Cerberus,  the  three-headed,  124. 
Doge  [doj],  of  Venice,  74. 
Dolionians  fdo-li-o'-nl-Sns],  93. 
Dragon  of  Cadmus,  21,  131, 141. 
Dragon    of    ^Eetes,  29    123  150,  153, 

154. 
Dreams,  strange,  41. 
Eagle,  Prometheus's,  133. 
Earth,  centre  of,  42. 
Earth-born  soldiers,  141/T.,  144. 
Eastern,  The  Great,  74. 
Elis  [ee'-liss],  31,  34. 
Elixir  vitcB,  198,  200. 
Elysium  [ee-lizh'-e-ilm],  164. 
Enarete  [ee-n3r'-ee-tee],  Table. 
Enipeus  [e-nl'-puse],  31. 
Erebus  [Sr'-e-buss],  71. 
Erginus  [er-jl'-niiss],  118. 
Erratic  Rocks,  114. 
Eryx  [ee'-rix],  101. 
Euboea  [you-bee'-ah],  191. 
Euneus  [you-nee'-fiss],  Table. 
Euphemus  [you-fee'-miiss],  69, 118. 
Euripides  [you-np'-I-deez] ,  193. 
Eurydice  [you-rid'-i-see],  70. 
Euxine  [yook'-sine],  same  as, 
Euxinus  [yook-si'-nHss],  Pontus (Black 

Sea),  21,  66,  106,  108,  118,  123,  158, 

Note  23. 
Eve,  199. 
Fates,  118. 
Feathers,  Sirens',  176. 
Field  of  Mars,  139. 
First  physician,  52. 
First  ship,  1,  65,  66,  188,  206. 
Flaccus  [flak'-kfiss].    See  Valerius 

Flaccus. 
Fleece.    See  Golden  Fleece. 
Floating    Islands.      See    Clashing 

Islands. 
Flowery  Isle.     See  ISLANDS. 
Flying  serpents,- 132,  134. 
Fort  Sumter,  67. 
"  Frying  pan,  jump  from,  into  fire," 

182. 
Furies,  71. 

G.EA  [jee'-ah],  same  as  Ge. 
Gaza  [gay'-zah],  79. 
Ge  [gay]  (Terra)  and  Uranus  [you'-ra- 

nHss]  (Caelus),  the  oldest  of  the 

gods,  Table,  5,  78. 
Geryon  [jee'-ry-Sn],  183. 


Giants,  six-armed,  92. 

Glaucus  [glaw'-kHss],  178. 

Glauke  [glaw'-ke],  Note  52. 

Goats  make  a  curious  discovery,  43. 

Gods,  30,  52,  157. 

Golden  Fleece,  10, 29, 41, 48,  64,  89,  123, 

125,  128,  146,  154,  155,  158. 
Goliath  [go-H'-athJ,98. 
Great  Eastern,  74. 
Gulf  of  California,  159. 
Hades  [hay'-deez]  (Pluto),  70, 176. 
Halys  [hay'-liss],  45,  46. 
Harpies,  106,  112. 

Heifer,  Io  transformed  into  a,  106. 
Helios  [hee'-li-Sss],  Table,  20,  21,  136, 

139,  145,  205. 
Helle  [hel'-lee],  Table,  5,  7, 12,  16,  17, 

18,  19. 
Hel'len,  Table. 

Hellespont  [hel'-leez-p5nt],  19,  91. 
Hellespontus  [hSl-leez-pSn'-tfis],  or, 
Hel'le's  Sea,  same  as  Hellespont. 
Henry,  Patrick,  4. 
Hephrestos   [he-f'Ss'-tSs]   (Vulcan),  86, 

136,  189. 
Hera  [hee'-rah]  (Juno),  Table,  5,  32, 

52,  57,  58,  64,  66,  106,  162. 
Heracles    [hg'-rah-kleez]    (Hercules), 

68,  78,  79,  88,  92,  95,  120,  183,  190, 

204. 
Hercules  [her'-kew-leez].    See  Hera- 
cles. 
Hermes  [her'-meez]  (Mercury),  8, 10, 

26,  66. 
Herodotus  [hS-r5d'-o-tHs],  160. 
Hesiod  [he'-she-od],  192,  Notes  39,  50. 
History,  67,  159. 
Ho'mer,  69, 114,  174,  183,  184,  Notes  11 

and  20. 
Hor'ace,  187. 

Hos'pitable  Sea,  The,  124. 
Hyginus  [hy-ji'-nHs],  25. 
Hylas  [hy'-lass],  94. 
Hyperion  [hi-pee'-rl-on],  Table. 
Hypsipyle    [hlp-sip'-i-lee],  Table,  87, 

88,  89. 
Iapetus  [i-Sp'-e-tHs],  Table. 
Ice-flower,  132,  134. 
Idsea  [I-dee'-ah],  106. 
Id'mon,  68,  118. 
Idyia  [I-dy'-yah],  Table,  25. 
Indian  boat,  65. 
Indian  corn,  6. 

Ino  [I'-no]  ,Table, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 21. 
I'o,  105. 
Iolcos  [I-51'-k5ss],  14,  30,  36,  41,  48,  67, 

86,  191,  193,  204. 


226 


PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


Iphitus  [W-fl-tOs],  68,  92. 
I'ris,  112. 
Isaac  [I'-z6k]>  8. 
Island  (s). 

uEgina,  191. 

Anaphe  (Anaphi),  191. 

Aretias  [a-ree'-she-Sss],  120. 

Blessed,  of  the,  23. 

Circe's  [sir'-seez],  159, 161, 163, 165, 
167. 

Clashing.  See  Clashing  Islands. 

Corcyra  [kor-si'-rah],  187. 

Corfu  [kor'-few],  187. 

Crete  [kreet],  189. 

Crumissa  [krew-mis'-sah],  25. 

Eubcea  [you-bee'-ah],  191. 

Floating.  See  Clashing  Islands. 

Flowery,  169,  171,  175,  177. 

Ithaca  [Tth'-a-kah],  166. 

Lem'nos,  86. 

Phaeacians  [fee-a'-she-anz],  of  the, 
187. 

Rhodes  [rodz],  2. 

Samothrace   [sam-o-thra'-see],  91, 
105. 

Scheria  [skee'-rf-ah],  187. 

Sun,  of  the,  186. 
Italy,  181,  183. 
Ithaca  [Ith'-a-kah],  166. 
Ixion  [ik-zi'-5n],  51,  72. 
Ja'son,  Table,  3,  37,  39,  54,  55,  56,  57, 

58,  59,  62,  63,  64,  65,  66,  85,  86,  S8, 89, 

93,  97,   109,  121,  123,  124,  125,  128, 

131,  132,  135,  136,  138,  139,  141,  143, 

145,  146,  148,  149,  154,  155,   156,  157, 

162,  167,  168,  187,  189,  191,  193,  194, 

195,  204,  205,  206,  Notes  7  and  13. 
Job  [job],  45. 
Jove,  same  as  Zeus. 
Juno.    See  Hera. 
Jupiter.    See  Zeus. 

Keel  of  the  Argo,  74. 
Keightley,  Note  29. 

Lamb,  sheep  transformed  to,  201. 

Lapitha  [lSp'-i-the],  77. 

Launching  of  a  ship,  76  ;  of  the  Argo, 

84. 
Learchus  [lee-ar'-kHss],  Table,  9,  13. 
Leda  [lee'-dah],  96. 
Lem'nos,  86,  87,  88,  90. 
Leucothea  [le\v-k5-the'-ah],  14. 
Leucothoe   [lew-koth'-o-ee],   same    as 

Leucothea. 
Lib'ya,  188. 
Lilybaeum  [Hl-iy-bee'-Hm],  176. 


Lincoln,  67. 

Living  Telescope,  91,  115. 

Locris  [lo'-kriss],  191. 

Longfellow,  76. 

Lucilius  Jlew-sil'-ly-Hs],  Note  27. 

Lycus  riy'-ktlss],  118. 

Lydia  pld'-de-ah],  45,  46. 

Lynceus   [Hn'-suse],  68,  92,  115,   116, 

162,  169,  190. 
Lyre  [lirj ,  golden,  70. 
Macbeth  [mak-beth'],  168. 
Magic  ointment,  132/f. 
Magic-speech,  169. 
Maidens,  golden,  137. 
Malea  [ma-lee'-ah],  188. 
"  Many  a  slip,"  etc,  119. 
Mariner's  compass,  74. 
Marmora  [mar'-mo-rah] ,  Sea  of,  91. 
Mars  [marz].    See  Ares. 
Mast  of  the  Argo,  75, 158. 
Medea  [mee-dee'-ah],  Table,  129,  131, 

132,  134,  135,  137,   144,  148,  152,  156, 

159,  167,  168,  187,  192,  193,  194,  198, 

203,  204,  205. 
Mediterranean      [mSd-Tt-tur-ray'-nee- 

an],  178,  184. 
Medo-lJersian  kingdom,  46. 
Melantian     [mee-lan'-she-an]    Rocks, 

191. 
Melicerta  [m61-i-sir'-tah],  same  as 
Melicertes    [mSl-i-sir'-teez],  Table,  9, 

14. 
Mercury  [mur'kew-re] .    See  Hermes. 
Mermerus  [mur'-mee-russ],  Table. 
Messina  [mes-see'-nah],  Straits  of,  181. 
Milton,  35,  70,  164,  165;  Notes  3,  20. 
Mind-persuader,  169. 
Minerva  [my-nur'-vah].  See  Athena. 
Minotaur  [mm'-o-tSr],  68. 
Minyan  women  parch  seed  corn,  5. 
Minyans  [mm'-yanz],  4,  7,  36. 
Minyas  [mm'-ySss],  36. 
Montgoltier  [m5ng-gawl-fee-a'],    18. 
Mop'sus,  68,  115,  189. 
Morris,  Wm. ,  75. 

Musagetes  [mew-s3j'-ee-teez],  175. 
Muses,  70,  176. 
Museum      [mew-zee'-fim],     National 

[ii5sh'-fin-Sl],  65. 
Music  of  Orpheus,  82,  126,  161,  175. 
Mysia  [mish'-e-ah],  94. 
Nameless  Sea  (^Egean),  17,  24,  86, 

123. 
National  Museum  at  Washington,  65. 
Navis.     See  Argo  Navis. 
Nebrophonus  [nee-brS  f '- o-niis  s], 

Table. 


PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


227 


Nebuchadnezzar      [neb-you-k5d-n6z'- 

zar],  25,  167. 
Neleus  [nee'-luse],  and  Pelias   [pee'- 

lee-ass],  Table,  31,  32,  36,  69. 
Nemaean    [nee-mee'-an],  lion's    skin, 

78. 
Nephele  [n5f'-Sh-lee],  Table,  5,  8,  10, 

12,  19.    (2),  51. 
Ne'pos,  Note  6  a. 
Nep'tune.    See  Poseidon. 
Nereids  [nee'-re-Idz],  185. 
Nereus  [nee'-ruse],  14,  16,  184. 
Nes'tor,  69. 
Nine  Muses,  70. 
Noah's  Ark,  1,  2  foot-note. 
North  Pole,  158. 

North  Wind  (Boreas),  69,  106,  112. 
Nymphs  [nimfs],  94. 
Oak.    See  Talking  Oak. 
Oceanid  [oh-see'-a-nld],  25. 
Oceanides  [oh-see-an'-I-deez],  18. 
Oceanus  [oh-see'-a-nQss],  Table,  16. 
Odysseus  [oh-dis'-suse],  166,  171. 
Ointment,  magic,  132,  135,  148. 
Olympus  [oh-lim'-pfiss],  30,  34,  86. 
Omens,  9. 
Ops.    See  Rhea. 
Oracles,  42,  43,  44,  47. 
Orpheus  [or'fuse],  70,  84,  104,  126,  147, 

150,  151#,  161,  174/. 
Orseis  [or-see'-Tss],  Table. 
Ovid  Lov'-W|,  14, 130, 144, 198;  Notes  1, 

37,  40,  42,  51. 
Ox'ford.    See  Cowford. 
Pagasean   [pag-a-see'-an],  Gulf,  30, 

86,191. 
Palsemon  [pay-Iee'-m5n].     See  Meli- 

certes. 
Pandion  [pan-di'-Sn],  108. 
Parnas'sus,  42. 
Patrick  Henry,  4. 
Peisinoe  [pi-sfn'-oh-ee],  169. 
Peleus  [pee'-luse],  68,  184jT,  203jf. 
Pelias  [pee'-li-ass],  Table,  31,  32,  35,  36, 

38,  40,   42,   48,   53,   60,  61,   63,   64, 
Note  13,  69,  81,  191,  199,  201,  203. 

Pelion  [pee'-le-on],  Mt.,  52,  67,  195. 

Perseis  [pur-see'-Tss],  Table. 

Persephone  [pur-sfif'-oh-nee]  (Proser- 
pina), 176. 

Persians,  45. 

Petrai  Plagktai  [pSt'-rye  plSnk'-tie] 
(Wandering  Rocks),  186. 

Phueaeians  [fee-a'-she-anz],  136,  1S7. 

Pliaeax  [fee'-aks],  187. 

Phaethon  [fay'-e-th5n],  21. 

Phasis  [fay'-sfss],  21,  110,  122,  124,  147. 


Pheres  [fee'-reez],  35.    (2),  Table. 
Philistine  giant  [fee-Hss'-tTn],  98. 
Philistines  [fee-llss'-tlnz],  79. 
Phineus  [fi'-nuse],  106,  Note  29,  107, 

108,  111,  112,  Note  31,  113. 
Phrixus  [frlk'-sfiss],  Table,  5,  10,  12, 

16,  17,  18,  22,  23,  25,  27,  28,  39,  41, 

48,  66,  122,  157. 
Physician  [fee-zi'  shHn],  first,  52. 
Picus  [pI'-kQss],  164,  179. 
Pieria  [pi-ee'-ri-ah],  82. 
Pigeon  [plj'-Sn],  113,  117. 
Pigeon-Greek,  115. 
Pilots  of  the  Argo,  69,  118. 
Pin'dar,  iv.,  14,  40,  122,  160;  Notes  7, 

13,  23. 
Pirithoiis  [pT-nth'-oh-fis],  77. 
Plagktai.    See  Petrai. 
Plexippus  [plSk-sip'-ptiss],  108. 
1'loughing  the  Field  of  Ares,  139. 
Pluto  [plew'-toe].    See  Hades. 
Poeas  [pee'-3ss],  190. 
Pollux  [p51'-liiks].   See  POLYDEUCES. 
Polydeuces  [p61-Iy-due'-seez]  (Pollux) 

69,  98,  103.  See  also  Castor. 
Polyphemus  [pSl-iy-fee'-mHss],  95. 
Pontus    Euxinus  [p5n'-tHss  youk-si'- 

nBss].    See  Euxine. 
Pope,  85. 
Poseidon    [po-si'-d5n]    (Neptune), 

Table,  14,  25,  31,  32,  68,  69,  79,  83, 

95,  118,  185,  187,  195. 
Priest  bribed,  7,  10. 
Priests  at  Delphi,  Hff. 
Procrustes  [pro-krHss'-teez],  68. 
Prometheus  [pro-mee'-thuse],  Table; 

132,  133,  Note  39. 
Prophetess  of  Delphi,  44. 
Propontis  [pro-p5n'-tiss],  91, 118. 
Proserpina      [pro-fur'-pi-nah].      See 

Persephone. 
Proteus  [pro'-tuse],  16. 
Proverbs,  familiar,  119,  182. 
Prow  of  the  Argo,  74. 
Purification,  159,  168. 
Pyrrha  [pir'-rah],  Table. 
Pythia  [pTth'-e-ah],  44,  46. 
Ram  with  golden  fleece.    See  Chrys- 

omallus. 
Rhea  [ree'-ah],  Table. 
Rhine  [rine]  river  water,  168. 
Rhodes  [rodz],  2. 
Rhodius  [ro'-dT-Hss].      See  Apollo- 

nius. 
Ring,  wedding,  74. 
Rocks,  Errat'ic,  114. 

Melantian  [me-13n'-she-2n],  191. 


228 


PRONOUNCING  INDEX. 


Rocks  (continued). 

Sirens  changed  to,  177. 

Wandering,  186. 

See  Clashing  Rocks. 
Rocky  Mts.,  159. 
ST.  IiAWKENCE,  159. 
Salmone  [sifl-mo'-nee],  31. 
Salmoneus  [s31-mo'-nuse],  Table,  31ff. 
Salmyaessus  [sSl-mi-d&s'-siiss],  106. 
Samothrace     [sam-o-thray'-see],     91, 

105. 
Samson,  The  Grecian,  68. 

The  Jewish,  79. 
Sam  Weller,  116. 
Sandal,  man  with  one,  49,  57,  60. 
Santa  Glaus  [klawz],  2. 
Sa'tan,  35. 

Sat'urn.    See  Cronos. 
Scheria  [skee'-ri-ah],  187. 
Scylla  [sil'-lah],  174, 177jf.,  184,  185. 
Sea,  Helle's,  19,  91. 

Hos'pitable,  21. 

Mediterranean,  178,  184. 

Mar'mora,  91. 

Nameless  (^Egean),  17,  24,  86. 
Seed  corn,  5. 

Serpent-chariot,  132,  134,  205. 
Shakespeare,  1,  2,  27,  47,  85,  168. 
Sheep,  3,  25,  201. 
Ship,  first.     See  First  Ship. 
Sibvl  [sTb'-bil],34. 
Sicily  [sis'-si-ty],  176,  181,  185. 
Siculus    [sik'-you-lfiss].     See  Diodo- 

RUS. 

Sidero  [si-dee'-ro],  Table,  31,  32,  52. 

Sirens,  4,  69,  164,  169,  170JT.,  VMff. 

Sisyphus  [sls'-se-fttss],  30. 

Six-armed  giants,  92. 

"  Slip,  many  a,"  etc.,  119. 

Song  of  the  Sirens,  4,  169/T. 

Song  Wizard.    See  Orpheus. 

Statius  [stay'-she-Ss],  11. 

Stone  flung  among  the  earth-born,  144. 

Storm  at  sea,  92,  104,  158,  188. 

Strophades  [strSf'-a-deez],  112. 

Stymphalian    fstim-fay'-le-5n]    birds, 

120. 
Stymphalos  [sfim-fay'-15s],  121. 
Sumter,  Fort,  67. 
Sun.    See  Helios. 
Symplegades    [sim-plSg'-a-deez],   117. 

See  also  Clashing  Islands. 
Talking  Oak,  74, 92, 104, 159, 160, 161, 

162, 168. 


Ta'los,  136,  189,  190. 

Ta'lus.    See  Talos. 

Teeth,  dragon's,  21,  131,  141. 

Telescope,  living.    See  LYNCEU8. 

Tennyson,  30,  74. 

Terra.     See  Ge. 

Tethys  [tee'-thiss],  Table. 

Thelxiepeia   [ t hSlk-si -ee'-pe-yah] 

(Magic-speech),  169. 
Theocritus    [the-ok'-ri-tHss],    99,  110, 

Note  28. 
Theophane  [the-Sff'-a-nee],  25. 
Theseus  [the'-siise],  68,  77. 
Thessalv  [thgs'-say-iy],  14,  30,  31,35, 

50,  193. 
Thetis  [the'-tiss],  16,  69,  186. 
Thia  [thi'-ah],  Table. 
Thoas  [tho'-3ss],  87. 
Thrace;  70,  91,  106. 
Three-headed  dog.    See  Cerberus. 
Thunder  counterfeited,  33. 
Timaeus  [ti-mee'-tis],  160. 
Tiphys  [tl'-fissl,  69,  75,  85,  115,  118. 
Titan  [tl'-tan],  134. 
Tomi  [to'-mij,  158. 
Transformation  of  Hera,  58. 
Tripod,  44. 
Troy,  18. 

Tyro  [tl'-ro],  Table;  31,  35. 
Ulysses  [u-lis'-seez].  See  Odysseus. 
Uranus  [u'-ra-niiss]  (Caslus),  Table;  5. 
Valerius     Flaccus    [va-lee'-ri-Kss 

fl3k'-k«ss],  152,  Note  43. 
Venice  [vSn'-iss],  74. 
Venus  [vee'-nfiss].    See  Aphrodite. 
Vergil  [vir'-jil],  34,  52,  101,  184,  Notes 

14,  42,  44a,  44b,  48. 
Volo  [vo'-lol,  30,  foot-note. 
Vulcan  [vHl'-k&n].   See  Heph^ESTOS. 
Vulture  of  Prometheus,  133. 
Wandering.    See  Rocks. 
Washington,  Life  of,  67. 
Washington  Museum,  65. 
Weller,  Sam,  116. 

Winged  ram.    See  Chrysomallus. 
Winged  serpents,  132,  135. 
Wings  of  Sirens,  176,  177. 
Wizard,  Song.    See  Orpheus. 
Wood,  famous  piece  of,  74. 
Woodpecker,  164,  166. 
Zetes  [ze'-teez].    See  CALAIS. 
Zeus  [zuse],  Table,  30,  33,34,86,  133, 

176,  183. 
Zona  [zo'-nahj,  82. 


